Assessing Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Scientific Reasoning Competencies

Abstract

Scientific reasoning competencies are highlighted in science education policy papers and standard documents in various countries around the world and pre-service science teachers are asked to develop them during teacher training as part of their professional competencies. In order to monitor the development of pre-service science teachers’ scientific reasoning competencies during their course of studies and to enable evidence-based improvements of teacher training, instruments for the assessment of scientific reasoning competencies are needed. However, studies propose that the validity of most instruments for assessing scientific reasoning competencies available so far can be questioned. This study presents an English translation of an already developed German multiple-choice instrument to assess pre-service science teachers’ scientific reasoning competencies. A sample of N = 105 Australian pre-service science teachers participated in this study by answering the translated instrument. Quantitative (differential item functioning, Mantel–Haenszel statistic) and qualitative (think-aloud protocols) analyses provide validity evidence for the translated instrument. Furthermore, the interpretation of the data as an indicator for the participating Australian pre-service science teachers’ scientific reasoning competencies suggests that there is a need for a more explicit emphasis on scientific reasoning in Australian science teacher training.