European Journal of Health and Biology Education

European Journal of Health and Biology Education, 2017 - Volume 6 Issue 1, pp. 1-11
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejhbe/64729

Published Online: 15 Nov 2017

Views: 583 | Downloads: 273

The aim of this study research is to identify acquaintance, knowledge levels and alternative conceptions of the eighth grade students about inheritance by using a three-tiered testing approach. For this purpose a three-tiered test was designed; the first tier was to determine acquaintance of the subject, the second tier was to determine knowledge about the subject. The third tier was to determine alternative conceptions of eighth-grade students (n=393). Sample of the study was determined by using convenient sampling. This study is a descriptive research involving two data collection instruments; “three-tiered test for inheritance subject” and “personal information form”. For analyzing data, frequency and percent values regarding choices of the test for each tier were calculated. Also a map was constructed by considering findings on each tier of the test. According to the findings eight-grades have alternative conceptions about inheritance involving heredity, meiosis and mitosis, chromosome, genetic diseases, adaptation, modification, DNA and regeneration subjects. Also it was determined that lack of knowledge was not a prerequisite for observing alternative conceptions about inheritance, some of the students have acquaintance and knowledge about the subject but they have alternative conceptions about the subject.

alternative conceptions inheritance three-tiered testing middle school students

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