• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.775-788
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• 2007

This study was aimed to understand the structures of preservice secondary school teachers' alternative conceptions on radioactive isotopes in the interior of earth. The structure of their conceptions were analyzed by the suggestions of Niaz (1988) based on the Lakatosian frameworks. The survey was carried out on a group of seventeen students who were major in science education. The research method was open-ended written questionnaire. The results of this study show that students had apparent alternative conceptions. The high temperature and pressure' explanation for radioactive decay in earth's interior had most import effects on their alternative conceptions. It was also intended to survey their conceptional change by our teaching strategies of the philosophy of science in order to construct science concepts.