Understanding Of Scientific Models Research Articles

Investigating the effects of explicit instructional approaches on students’ understanding of scientific models and modeling

ABSTRACT Research purposes and design This study aimed to compare the effects of different explicit approaches used in modeling-based instruction on students’ understanding of scientific models and modeling (USMM). In Study 1, a self-study approach was compared to a preliminary explicit approach. In Study 2, preliminary explicit approach and embedded explicit approach were compared. Methods For the data analysis, t tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare students’ USMM under the conditions of using different explicit approaches. Findings Results showed that in the first study, no statistically significant difference was found between self-study approach and the preliminary explicit approach in any of the USMM subscales. In the second study, students who learned with the embedded explicit approach had better understandings in all subscales of USMM, but not in the changing nature of scientific models (CNM) subscale, than those who learned with the preliminary explicit approach. Through qualitative analysis of the data, categories and examples of the teacher’s embedded epistemic guidance were illustrated. Suggestions for future professional development and research instrument design are provided.

An alternative View for Scientific Models Based on Metaphors: a case analysis from Darwin's use of metaphors

This paper aims to offer an alternative view for understanding scientific models based on metaphors. To accomplish this, we employ a special case of Darwin’s use of metaphors, such as the notion of powerful Being, in order to represent natural selection. Our proposal contributes to issues in the literature of scientific model, such as imprecisions in the understanding of scientific models, especially in models based on metaphors. Thus, our alternative view of models based on metaphors, and inspired by Darwin’s use of metaphors, provides us with four features, a-simplification and selection; b-articulation of familiar-unfamiliar structures; c-accessibility and moderations of complexity, and finally d-local realism. We contrast these features with Darwin’s use of a metaphors. We conclude by saying that our proposal of metaphor’s approach of models does not only contribute to the clarification of how these types of scientific models can be understood but it shows that metaphors can also contain a realist element that explains why scientists often use it in their practices of modeling the world.

Colligation in modelling practices: From Whewell’s tides to the San Francisco Bay Model

“Colligation”, a term first introduced in philosophy of science by William Whewell (1840), today sparks a renewed interest beyond Whewell scholarship. In this paper, we argue that adopting the notion of colligation in current debates in philosophy of science can contribute to our understanding of scientific models. Specifically, studying colligation allows us to have a better grasp of how integrating diverse model components (empirical data, theory, useful idealization, visual and other representational resources) in a creative way may produce novel generalizations about the phenomenon investigated. Our argument is built both on the theoretical appraisal of Whewell’s philosophy of science and the historical rehabilitation of his scientific work on tides. Adopting a philosophy of science in practice perspective, we show how colligation emerged from Whewell’s empirical work on tides. The production of idealized maps (“cotidal maps”) illustrates the unifying and creative power of the activity of colligating in scientific practice. We show the importance of colligation in modelling practices more generally by looking at its epistemic role in the construction of the San Francisco Bay Model.

Analysis of student perceptions of scientific models: validation of a Spanish-adapted version of the Students’ Understanding of Models in Science instrument

ABSTRACT We present the results of a study of Chilean students’ understanding of scientific models, using a Spanish-adapted version of the Students’ Understanding of Models in Science instrument (Treagust, D. F., Chittleborough, G., & Mamiala, T. L. (2002). Students understanding of the role of scientific models in learning science. International Journal of Science Education, 24(4), 357–368. doi:10.1080/09500690110066485). The study covered 290 students in three schools in different parts of Chile. Results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.86 and medium correlation between the dimensions of the instrument. A confirmatory factor analysis showed that the five dimensions’ theoretical structure is supported by the data, and one-way ANOVA and a t-test showed a balanced, non-discriminatory instrument that is suited for use in the Spanish language. The instrument also showed that Chilean students most need improvement in two of the dimensions – ‘understanding of scientific models in terms of exact replicas’ and the ‘use of scientific models’. This reflects the original data analysed by Treagust et al. (2002) and suggests that these factors are common issues in the teaching and learning of scientific models. Future research will review the data by year and group to determine how students develop the idea of a scientific model and relate this information to science curricula. It will also investigate the link between students’ understanding of scientific models and Anderson & Krathwohl's (2001) cognitive taxonomy.

Relational Scaffolding Enhances Children’s Understanding of Scientific Models

Models are central to the practice and teaching of science. Yet people often fail to grasp how scientific models explain their observations of the world. Realizing the explanatory power of a model may require aligning its relational structure to that of the observable phenomena. In the present study, we tested whether relational scaffolding—guided comparisons between observable and modeled events—enhances children’s understanding of scientific models. We tested relational scaffolding during instruction of third graders about the day/night cycle, a topic that involves relating Earth-based observations to a space-based model of Earth’s rotation. Experiment 1 found that participants (N = 108) learned more from instruction that incorporated relational scaffolding. Experiment 2 (N = 99) found that guided comparison—not merely viewing observable and modeled events—is a critical component of relational scaffolding, especially for children with low initial knowledge. Relational scaffolding could be applied broadly to assist the many students who struggle with science.

Investigating the Relationship Between Views of Scientific Models and Modeling Practice

Understanding scientific models and practicing scientific modeling have been emphasized and advocated in science learning. Although teachers have been perceived as shaping their students’ understanding of the nature of science, they have been recognized for their lack of understanding of scientific models. This study explores middle school science teachers’ and ninth-grade students’ performance in terms of their understanding of scientific models and their construction and evaluation of these models. The study participants comprised 95 science teachers and 608 ninth-grade students. To investigate the students’ understanding of scientific models, they were asked to fill out a Students’ Understanding of Models in Science survey. To explore the students’ model construction and evaluation, they were asked to explain three different magnetic phenomena and to provide the criteria they used to evaluate the scientific models. The results show that the teachers’ performance on these three aspects was significantly better than that of the students. However, this study indicated that teachers have similar problems as students in terms of understanding theoretical representations of scientific models and practicing model construction. Moreover, those teachers who had a better understanding that scientific models are not the replica of target events could develop higher levels of models while students with more understanding that scientific models are the replica of target events were able to develop higher levels of models. The findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of the gap between teachers and students, which will be crucial for designing a better modeling-based curriculum.

Comparing the Use of Two Different Model Approaches on Students’ Understanding of DNA Models

As effective methods to foster students’ understanding of scientific models in science education are needed, increased reflection on thinking about models is regarded as a relevant competence associated with scientific literacy. Our study focuses on the influence of model-based approaches (modeling vs. model viewing) in an out-of-school laboratory module on the students’ understanding of scientific models. A mixed method design examines three subsections of the construct: (1) students’ reasoning about multiple models in science, (2) students’ understanding of models as exact replicas, and (3) students’ understanding of the changing nature of models. There were 293 ninth graders from Bavarian grammar schools that participated in our hands-on module using creative model-based tasks. An open-ended test item evaluated the students’ understanding of “multiple models” (MM). We defined five categories with a majority of students arguing that the individuality of DNA structure leads to various DNA models (modelers = 36.3%, model viewers = 41.1%). Additionally, when applying two subscales of the quantitative instrument Students’ Understanding of Models in Science (SUMS) at three testing points (before, after, and delayed-after participation), a short- and mid-term decrease for the subscale “models as exact replicas” (ER) appeared, while mean scores increased short- and mid-term for the subscale “the changing nature of models” (CNM). Despite the lack of differences between the two approaches, a positive impact of model-based learning on students’ understanding of scientific models was observed.

Identifying the Item Hierarchy and Charting the Progression across Grade Levels: Surveying Taiwanese Students’ Understanding of Scientific Models and Modeling

The purpose of this study was, first, to understand the item hierarchy regarding students’ understanding of scientific models and modeling (USM). Secondly, this study investigated Taiwanese students’ USM progression from 7th to 12th grade, and after participating in a model-based curriculum. The questionnaire items were developed based on 6 aspects of USM, namely, model type, model content, constructed nature of models, multiple models, change of models, and purpose of models. Moreover, 10 representations of models were included for surveying what a model is. Results show that the purpose of models and model type items covered a wide range of item difficulties. At the one end, items for the purpose of models are most likely to be endorsed by the students, except for the item “models are used to predict.” At the other end, the “model type” items tended to be difficult. The students were least likely to agree that models can be text, mathematical, or dynamic. The items of the constructed nature of models were consistently located above the average, while the change of models items were consistently located around the mean level of difficulty. In terms of the natural progression of USM, the results show significant differences between 7th grade and all grades above 10th, and between 8th grade and 12th grade. The students in the 7th grade intervention group performed better than the students in the 7th and 8th grades who received no special instruction on models.

SCAFFOLDING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MODELING PROCESSES

This research explores how scaffolding students’ reflections on scientific modeling criteria influence the students’ views on scientific models, development of explanatory models, and understanding of scientific models. This research recruited treatment groups and comparison groups in middle schools and high schools. The treatment groups adopted a modeling curriculum that was intended to help students engage in scientific modeling by developing scientific models of magnetism while considering scientific modeling criteria. The comparison groups used the traditional curriculum, which offers students scientific models of magnetism. The results show that the modeling curriculum enhanced the students’ views on scientific models and the students’ ability to develop explanatory models of magnetism and modeling criteria. Thus, the findings indicate that the modeling curriculum might serve as a promising tool to facilitate teaching scientific modeling to middle school and high school students, and that the curriculum should be promoted as early as middle school. Keywords: scientific modeling, modeling curriculum, nature of models and modeling, model development, model evaluation, magnetism concepts.

The Relationship between Students’ Perception of the Scientific Models and Their Alternative Conceptions of the Lunar Phases

The aim of this study was to reveal whether there were differences in the understanding of scientific models according to their conceptions of lunar phases. The participants were 252 10th grader in South Korea. They were asked to respond SUMS (Students Understanding of Models in Science) instrument and to draw and explain why the different lunar phases occur. Students’ conceptions of lunar phases were analyzed qualitatively based on established criterions and the differences in the perception of scientific models, a one-way ANOVA was conducted. Results indicated that Korean students’ conceptions of the lunar phases were classified into five types: scientific, alternative, incomplete, eclipse explanation, and naïve conception. The participants appeared to have different epistemological perceptions concerning each of the five subfactors in the scientific models. The students with a scientific conception of lunar phases tended to understand that multiple representations could be used to express the different dimensions of an object. It was found that Korean students have a good understanding of the role of models as explanatory tools(ET) and the changing nature of scientific models(CNM). There was statistically significant differences were shown in ET, USM(uses of scientific models) and CNM factors depending on the types of conceptions of the lunar phases.

USING RASCH MEASUREMENT TO VALIDATE THE INSTRUMENT OF STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF MODELS IN SCIENCE (SUMS)

Scientific models and modeling play an important role in science, and students’ understanding of scientific models is essential for their understanding of scientific concepts. The measurement instrument of Students’ Understanding of Models in Science (SUMS), developed by Treagust, Chittleborough & Mamiala (International Journal of Science Education, 24(4):357–368, 2002), has commonly been used to measure SUMS. SUMS was developed using the Classical Test Theory (CTT). Considering the limitations of CTT, in this study we applied a Rasch model to validate SUMS further. SUMS was given to 629 students in 18 classes of grades 9 and 10 from six high schools in China. The results present both additional evidence for the validity and reliability of SUMS and specific aspects for further improvement. This approach of validation of a published instrument by Rasch measurement can be applied to other measurement instruments developed using CTT.

Students' understanding of the role of scientific models in learning science

Scientific models are used routinely in science not only as learning tools, but also as representations of abstract concepts and as consensus models of scientific theories. Students' experiences with scientific models help them to develop their own mental models of scientific concepts. This paper discusses the development and evaluation of an instrument to measure secondary students' understanding of scientific models. The results of a study with 228 secondary science students identify five themes about students' understanding of scientific models: scientific models as multiple representations; models as exact replicas; models as explanatory tools; how scientific models are used; and the changing nature of scientific models. The results highlight the need for greater emphasis on the teaching of the role and purpose of the concept of scientific models in science.

Reflections on a fifth‐grade life science lesson: making sense of children's understanding of scientific models

In this study a teaching/research collaboration between a fifth‐grade teacher and a university science educator was implemented to examine conceptual change teaching and learning. The authors reflected on one classroom lesson to better understand their own teaching and student sense‐making about trophic relations in a terrarium community. Many children thought the pyramid model of trophic levels represented space needs of the organisms rather than energy relationships. Yet when the authors, as teachers, abandoned the scientific model and allowed students to construct their own, it was found that they did have reasonable ideas about number relationships in a community. It was also learned that, even with strong philosophical commitments to conceptual change teaching, teaching behaviours were sometimes in conflict with teachers’ beliefs. The findings have implications for teacher education and indicate that more work is needed to understand and elucidate conceptual change teaching strategies that will help ...