Examination of Students’ Small Groups Discussion in Argumentation Process: Scientific and Socio-Scientific Issues

Year 2017, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 126 - 137, 31.07.2017

Esra Kabatas Memis Ebru Ezberci Cevik

https://doi.org/10.21891/jeseh.325788

Cited By: 4

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine processes experienced by
students of different achievement levels in small group discussions in
argumentation applications conducted in scientific and socio-scientific issues.
Case study which is a qualitative research design was used for the study. In
this line, a success test including mechanical subjects comprising
multiple-choice and open-ended questions was applied to students by researches
in the beginning of semester. Looking at points taken from the success test,
student levels (high, medium and low) were determined and groups were formed in
accordance with these levels. One group was selected from each level
representing that level, and processes experienced by discussions relating to
scientific issue as well as socio-scientific issue were individually examined.
Study group consisted of 10 preservice teachers having education in Department
of Science Teaching. Voice records of both issues were taken during student
discussions and analyzed by transcription. Codes prepared by the researchers
(cause-effect relationship, using clues, proposing suggestions, prediction,
deduction etc.) were combined under certain categories and entitled. As a
consequence, it was revealed that students were more effective in supporting
argumentation process in non-scientific issue with respect to scientific issue;
and in terms of evaluation, metacognition and process management, students were
more effective in scientific issue with respect to non-scientific issue.
Moreover, it was seen that students were more effective in non-scientific issue
with respect to scientific issue in scientific process skills. When
student-student questions were examined, there were more questions in
scientific issue in the low-level; and there were more questions in
non-scientific issue in the medium level.

Keywords

Argumentation, Scientific, Socio-scientific, Small group discussion

References

• Kabatas Memis, E. & Ezberci Cevik, E. (2017). Examination of students’ small groups discussion in argumentation process: Scientific and socio-scientific issues. Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health (JESEH), 3(2), 126-137.