Cognitive Structures and Misconceptions with a Thematic Framework: The Case of Chemical Bonding

Year 2019, Issue: 16, 65 - 78, 25.07.2019

Şenol Şen , Lütfiye Varoğlu Ayhan Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.466415

Abstract

This study aims to investigate undergraduate
students’ cognitive structures and determinate misconceptions about chemical
bonding phenomena. On the other hand, the study achieves to recommend an
alternative technique for the evaluation of Word Associations Tests (WAT). The
study was carried out with the participation of first year studens; 141 from
engineering faculty and 73 from medical sciences faculty of a foundation
university in the spring semester of 2017-2018 academic year. WAT about
chemical bonds prepared by the researchers was used as a data collection tool.
Content analysis were used to analyze the data. The students’ responds to the
key words given to them were divided into themes and cut-off technique was used
according to the themes distinguished. In this context, students' cognitive
structures related to chemical bonds were determined within the framework of
themes. It has been determined that the students’ WAT results regarding to
chemical bonding, which supported with concept maps within the framework of the
themes, provides convenience in determining the misconceptions because of
reflects the concepts and the relationships between the concepts more clearly.
In consequence, it is suggested that the new technique of evaluation
recommended could be used in prospective studies.

Keywords

chemical bonds, misconceptions, undergraduate students, word association test

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