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Investigation into Tenth Graders' Understanding of the "Nature of Scientific Inquiry"

일반 고등학교 1학년 학생들의 과학적 탐구의 본성에 관한 이해

  • Cho, Eunjin (Department of Science Education, Seoul National University)
  • 조은진 (서울대학교 과학교육과)
  • Received : 2020.05.06
  • Accepted : 2020.06.25
  • Published : 2020.06.30
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Abstract

This study aims to investigate tenth graders' understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI). A total of 100 public school students participated. A questionnaire of Views about Scientific Inquiry was used to assess their understanding of the NOSI, and data were collected using qualitative research methods such as open-ended questionnaires and, when necessary, semi-structured interviews. By employing a constant comparison method to analyze their responses, five students were consistently categorized as the group with informed views regarding all the eight aspects of the NOSI. The rest of the students showed different levels of understanding regarding each aspect. A large portion of the students represented a group with mixed views about four aspects and informed views about three aspects, whereas naive views about one aspect prevailed among them. The results showed that many students comparatively lacked understanding of the aspect related to the scientists' process of constructing explanations and formulating theories. This study discusses the relationship between its results and the current science curriculum and presents implications for the overall enhancement of students' understanding of the NOSI. Finally, it encourages the acquisition of scientific inquiry ability and makes suggestions to promote further studies.

본 연구에서는 서울 지역 일반 공립 고등학교 2019학년도 1학년 재학생 100명의 과학적 탐구의 본성에 대한 이해 양상을 탐구하여, 학생들의 과학적 탐구 역량 배양을 위한 과학교육의 개선과 발달에 함의를 제공하고자 하였다. 이에 과학적 탐구의 본성 8가지 측면을 평가 내용으로 하는 VASI 검사 도구를 사용하여 학생들의 과학적 탐구의 본성 이해 양상을 조사하였다. 학생들의 응답 자료에 대해 반복적 비교법을 적용하여 분석한 결과, 5명의 학생이 과학적 탐구의 본성의 8가지 측면에 대해 일관되게 전문적 관점을 소유한 것으로 나타났으며, 대부분 학생의 이해에서, 3가지 측면, 즉 '모든 과학자가 같은 과정을 수행한다 해도 같은 결론을 얻게 되는 것은 아니다.', '탐구 과정은 탐구 문제에 의해 안내된다.', '연구 결론은 수집된 자료에 모순되지 않아야 한다.'에 대해서는 전문적 관점이, 4가지 측면, 즉 '과학적 탐구는 서로 다른 방법을 취할 수 있다.', '모든 과학적 탐구는 질문을 제기하여 시작하지만, 반드시 가설을 시험하는 것은 아니다.', '탐구 과정은 그 결과에 영향을 미칠 수 있다.', '과학적 자료와 증거는 다르다.'에 대해서는 혼합적 관점이 우세하였다. 하지만 1가지 측면, 즉 '수집된 자료와 이미 알려진 바를 종합하여 설명이 구축된다.'에 대해서는 초보적 관점을 표출한 학생들이 가장 많았다. 이러한 연구 결과에 대한 분석 및 해석과 현시점의 과학 교육과정 사이의 관련성을 논하면서, 장차 학생들의 과학적 탐구의 본성 이해 및 과학 탐구력 신장을 위한 교육적 시사점을 제시하고, 연구 관련 제안을 하였다.

Keywords

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