ERIC Number: EJ791515
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May
Pages: 21
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0157-244X
EISSN: N/A
Learning Environment, Attitudes and Achievement among Middle-School Science Students Using Inquiry-Based Laboratory Activities
Wolf, Stephen J.; Fraser, Barry J.
Research in Science Education, v38 n3 p321-341 May 2008
This study compared inquiry and non-inquiry laboratory teaching in terms of students' perceptions of the classroom learning environment, attitudes toward science, and achievement among middle-school physical science students. Learning environment and attitude scales were found to be valid and related to each other for a sample of 1,434 students in 71 classes. For a subsample of 165 students in 8 classes, inquiry instruction promoted more student cohesiveness than non-inquiry instruction (effect size of one-third of a standard deviation), and inquiry-based laboratory activities were found to be differentially effective for male and female students.
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Physical Sciences, Science Laboratories, Educational Environment, Gender Differences, Middle School Students, Secondary School Science, Science Experiments, Science Achievement, Inquiry, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A