Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme

Grades 10 and 11 students’ (N=172) understanding of particle theory concepts was assessed using the Particle Theory Diagnostic Instrument (PTDI), consisting of 11 two-tier multiple-choice items in a pretest–posttest design after implementing an intervention instructional programme. The intervention...

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Main Authors: Treagust, David, Chandrasegaran, Arulsingam, Halim, L., Ong, E., Zain, A., Karpudewan, M.
Other Authors: Georgios Tsaparlis
Format: Book Chapter
Published: Springer 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42678
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author Treagust, David
Chandrasegaran, Arulsingam
Halim, L.
Ong, E.
Zain, A.
Karpudewan, M.
author2 Georgios Tsaparlis
author_facet Georgios Tsaparlis
Treagust, David
Chandrasegaran, Arulsingam
Halim, L.
Ong, E.
Zain, A.
Karpudewan, M.
author_sort Treagust, David
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Grades 10 and 11 students’ (N=172) understanding of particle theory concepts was assessed using the Particle Theory Diagnostic Instrument (PTDI), consisting of 11 two-tier multiple-choice items in a pretest–posttest design after implementing an intervention instructional programme. The intervention programme involving eight lessons of about 45-min duration each included teacher demonstrations and student practical activities followed by class discussions to explain students’ observations. The 11 items assessed understanding in three key conceptual categories: (1) intermolecular spacing in matter (CC1), (2) the influence of intermolecular forces on changes of state (CC2), and (3) diffusion in liquids and gases (CC3), using a quantitative methodology. There was a statistically significant improvement in overall mean scores among students from the pretest (M=4.08, SD=1.79) to the posttest [M=6.04, SD=2.49, t (171)=10.10, p<0.001]. However, the students did not display a good understanding about the concepts in the three conceptual categories: only 30.8% of students correctly answered all four items in CC1, 7.0% correctly answered all three items in CC2, and 16.3% correctly answered all four items in CC3.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-426782023-02-13T08:01:35Z Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme Treagust, David Chandrasegaran, Arulsingam Halim, L. Ong, E. Zain, A. Karpudewan, M. Georgios Tsaparlis Hannah Sevian Grades 10 and 11 students’ (N=172) understanding of particle theory concepts was assessed using the Particle Theory Diagnostic Instrument (PTDI), consisting of 11 two-tier multiple-choice items in a pretest–posttest design after implementing an intervention instructional programme. The intervention programme involving eight lessons of about 45-min duration each included teacher demonstrations and student practical activities followed by class discussions to explain students’ observations. The 11 items assessed understanding in three key conceptual categories: (1) intermolecular spacing in matter (CC1), (2) the influence of intermolecular forces on changes of state (CC2), and (3) diffusion in liquids and gases (CC3), using a quantitative methodology. There was a statistically significant improvement in overall mean scores among students from the pretest (M=4.08, SD=1.79) to the posttest [M=6.04, SD=2.49, t (171)=10.10, p<0.001]. However, the students did not display a good understanding about the concepts in the three conceptual categories: only 30.8% of students correctly answered all four items in CC1, 7.0% correctly answered all three items in CC2, and 16.3% correctly answered all four items in CC3. 2013 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42678 10.1007/978-94-007-5914-5_6 Springer restricted
spellingShingle Treagust, David
Chandrasegaran, Arulsingam
Halim, L.
Ong, E.
Zain, A.
Karpudewan, M.
Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme
title Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme
title_full Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme
title_fullStr Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme
title_full_unstemmed Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme
title_short Understanding of Basic Particle Nature of Matter Concepts by Secondary School Students Following an Intervention Programme
title_sort understanding of basic particle nature of matter concepts by secondary school students following an intervention programme
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/42678