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The relationship between students' views of the nature of science and their views of the nature of scientific measurement
[journal article]
Abstract The present study explores the relationship between students’ views on the nature of science (NOS) and their views of the nature of scientific measurement. A questionnaire with two-tier diagnostic multiple choice items on both the NOS and measurement was administered to 179 first year physics stude... view more
The present study explores the relationship between students’ views on the nature of science (NOS) and their views of the nature of scientific measurement. A questionnaire with two-tier diagnostic multiple choice items on both the NOS and measurement was administered to 179 first year physics students with diverse school experiences. Students’ views on the NOS were classified into four ‘NOS profiles’ and views on measurement were classified according to either the point or set paradigms. The findings show that students with a NOS profile which is dominated by a belief that the laws of nature are to be discovered by scientists, are more likely to have a view of the nature of scientific measurement characterised by a belief in ‘true’ values. On the other hand, students who believe that scientific theories are inventions of scientists, constructed from observations which are then validated through further experimentation, are more likely to have a view of the nature of scientific measurement which is underpinned by the uncertain nature of scientific evidence. The implications for teaching scientific measurement at tertiary level are discussed.... view less
Classification
University Education
Curriculum, Teaching, Didactics
Document language
English
Publication Year
2009
Page/Pages
p. 1137-1156
Journal
International Journal of Science Education, 31 (2009) 9
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802189807
Status
Postprint; peer reviewed
Licence
PEER Licence Agreement (applicable only to documents from PEER project)