Students perception of experimental tests design

Authors

  • Antônio Tarciso Borges UFMG - Minas Gerais
  • Alessandro Damásio Trani Gomes UFMG - Minas Gerais

Abstract

This study examines students ability in distinguishing fair and consistent experimental tests from confounded and inadequate tests and the effect of prior knowledge on it. 122 students from Fundamental Education (8th grade) and 78 students from High School (2th grade) took part in this research. They were asked to assess the adequacy of two sets of experimental diagrams to test the effect of a variable on a dependent one. Results indicate that older students from High School are better at distinguishing adequate and consistent tests. They also show better understanding of the function of experiments and seem to have a richer repertoire of experimental strategies for setting tests. It was also found that the ability in controlling variables in a correct way depends on the phenomenon studied and on the way the situation is presented.

Author Biographies

Antônio Tarciso Borges, UFMG - Minas Gerais

Bacharelado e Licentiatura em Física pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (1977, 1978), Mestrado em Física pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (1982) e Doutorado em Educação em Ciências - University of Reading (1996).

Mais informações: Currículo Lattes - CNPq.

Alessandro Damásio Trani Gomes, UFMG - Minas Gerais

Graduação em Física Licenciatura pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2001) , graduação em Engenharia de Controle e Automação pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (2002) , mestrado em Educação pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2005) e aperfeicoamento em Graduação Sanduíche - Eletrotechnik pela Technische Universitat Hamburg Harburg (2001).

Mais informações: Currículo Lattes - CNPq.

Published

2005-01-01

How to Cite

Borges, A. T., & Gomes, A. D. T. (2005). Students perception of experimental tests design. Caderno Brasileiro De Ensino De Física, 22(1), 71–94. Retrieved from https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/fisica/article/view/6394

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Section

Artigos