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ERIC Number: EJ1074876
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1450-104X
EISSN: N/A
A SEM Model in Assessing the Effect of Convergent, Divergent and Logical Thinking on Students' Understanding of Chemical Phenomena
Stamovlasis, D.; Kypraios, N.; Papageorgiou, G.
Science Education International, v26 n3 p284-306 2015
In this study, structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to an instrument assessing students' understanding of chemical change. The instrument comprised items on understanding the structure of substances, chemical changes and their interpretation. The structural relationships among particular groups of items are investigated and analyzed using confirmatory procedures. In addition, three psychometric cognitive variables, namely logical, convergent and divergent thinking are involved in the SEM analysis and their effects on students' performance estimated. Specifically, three models are tested: a confirmatory factor model, a multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) model and path analysis. The SEM analysis showed that the cognitive variables, along with students' achievements in understanding the structure of substances and their changes, sufficiently explained students' ability to interpret chemical phenomena, providing additionally their direct and indirect effects. The theoretical analysis and the interpretation of the results contributed significantly to an understanding about the role of the above individual differences in learning secondary school chemistry. Implications for science education are also discussed.
International Council of Associations for Science Education. Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Education, Buca, Izmir 35150, Turkey. Tel: +90-532-4267927; Fax: +90-232-4204895; Web site: http://icaseonline.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Greece; Macedonia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A