Too often, students enter our classrooms with insufficient knowledge of physical science. As a result, they have a difficult time understanding content in texts, lectures, and laboratory activities. This lack of background knowledge can have an impact on their ability to ask questions and wonder--both key components of inquiry. In this article,…

Compares the performance of ninth-grade students on 30 common test items given during the First (1970) and Second (1983) International Science Study, including differences related to sex. Findings, among others, show that overall, students in 1983 scored higher than their predecessors in 1970. (JN)