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Correlation Analysis of High School Students’ Coursework and Reasoning
Mark Schober1
Hugh Ross2, Kathleen Koenig3, Lei Bao4
John Burroughs School(1)
Guerin Catholic High School(2)
Wright State University(3)
The Ohio State University(4)
Why Study Scientific Reasoning?
2
Scientific Reasoning - Tools that transform observations and ideas into knowledge
Natural phenomena as seen by novice learners of science Natural phenomena
as seen by skilled science practioners
Assessments used in Study• Lawson Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning
• Force Concept Inventory
• John Burroughs School– Private school, select admission– Algebra-trig based regular physics (39 juniors)
• Guerin Catholic High School– Private school, open enrollment– Honors physics students (42 seniors)
Two High Schools in Study
4
Lawson (pre instruction)-FCI (post instruction) Correlations
Burroughs Guerin
Total Lawson Score .58 .66
Conservation .28 .37
Proportion .50 .46
Control Variable .60 .77
Probability .01 .41
Correlation .04 .59
Hypothesis Testing .41 .61
Additional Correlations for Guerin HS
6
FCI and Lawson Correlations
-0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
PSAT
SAT
T2 Assignmentgrades
T1 Assignmentgrades
T2 Test Grades
T1 Test Grades
Correlation
LawsonFCI
Lawson Correlation to Prior Math & Science Courses
Correlations between prior math and science courses taken and Lawson for grades 9-12 [n = 265 students at Guerin High School]
Math Science
Total Lawson Score .96 .79
Conservation .76 .72
Proportion .98 .90
Control Variable .79 .68
Probability .98 .60
Correlation .72 .82
Hypothesis Testing .65 .37
Summary and Future Work
• Physics success isn’t just about teaching content -- success is linked to student scientific reasoning skills.
• Scientific reasoning ability linked to prior math and science instruction
• Lawson as a pre-test identifies students needing scientific reasoning skill development.
• Identify instructional techniques that strengthen SR skills and weaken Lawson-FCI correlation. Measure with Lawson as a pre and post-test.
Kathy Koenig: [email protected]
