Uncovering High School Students' Initial Understanding and Beliefs About the Nature of Science Prior to Studying Variable Stars (Abstract)

Volume 35 number 1 (2007)

Pebble Richwine

James Bedient

Timothy F. Slater

Abstract

(Abstract only) Through the Spring of 2006, high school students’ initial conceptual understanding of and attitudes about the nature of science were systematically measured prior to using the curriculum packet “In the Hunt for Variable Stars.” Students were about to investigate long period variable stars on Stardial images of a 26-square degree area in Aquila, under the guidance of their science teacher in a high school integrated science classroom. This study builds upon previous work and provides important baseline information to measure cognitive and affective changes resulting from an authentic scientific research experience for high school students. As such, this educational research project represents an iterative step toward developing a comprehensive picture of students’ conceptual understanding of the scientific enterprise of astronomy and students’ attitudes about the nature of science.