AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN THE TEACHING OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL

340 Pages·012.931 MB·English

by  MASON, JOHN MURWYN

"An BftrlMoUl Study in tb« Twehing
of Solmtlflo Thinking in Biological
Sdanoo at tho Oollogo Loral."
John N. Mason
of iImi far
w Motion
Ph. P*
»-■ *■» 13. 190.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN THE TEACHING OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING
IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL
BY
John Muroyn Mason
*
♦ *
*
A DISSERTATION
i
Sutalttad to ths School of Graduate Studies of Miohigan
State College of Agriculture and Applied Seienee in
partial fulfillment of the requiraeentn for the
degree of
DOCTCB OF PHILOSOPHY
Department of Education
1 9 5 1
AGKHOKLHXaOBITS
The writer wishes to express his appreciation to Professor
Tiotor H* Noll, chairman of his Guidance OenittM, for interest,
adrloe, sad enooureg^ent in ths planning, execution, and oosiplstion
of tha study*
Ha also dasiras to axpraos his gratitude to Protaaaar Chastar
A* Lawson, Haad of tha Da par ts^nt of Biologleal Soianea, for suggastlons
with raspaot to tha laetura materials and for administrative support
and aaalatanoa in various aspaots of tha study* Appraoiatlon is dua
Dr* John Sotomid for valuable suggestions and oounaal In regard to tha
statistical treatment of tha data*
Tha writer is indebted to Mr* Robert S* Linton, Registrar, and
his staff for their work in proriding tha registration details necessary
for tha carrying through of tha study and to all Departments in tha
Collage for their cooperation in the registration plana* Recognition is
also due to the All College Research Ccsmiittee for financial aid without
which tha study could not hare been o am pieted*
To the young nan and woman who ware tha subjects in tha study,
tha writer wishes to express his pleasure la haring been privileged to
work with them and hi a appreciation for their full cooperation in the
study*
John Uunqm Mason
candidate for tha dagraa of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Final examination: June 13, 1991, 10:00 A. M«, 202 Morrill Hail
Dissertation: An Experimental Study in tha Teaching of Soiantifio
Thinking in Biologioal Solanoa at tha Collage Laral
Outline of Stndiaa:
Major aubjaot: Educational Psychology and Tests and Measurement
Biographical Itoas:
i
Born, July 24, 1908, Ash Oro ra, Missouri
Undergraduate Studies: Drury Collage, Springfield, Missouri,
1926-30
Qraduate Studies: Unlrerslty of Missouri, Sauer sessions,
1934, *35, *37, and '38; 1942-46.
Mlohlgan State College, 1946-51
Experience: Science instructor, Sulllran Public High School,
Sulliran, Missouri, 1930-40
Superintendent, Rockwoods Reserratlon, Oleneoe,
Missouri, 1940-41
Science instructor, Sulllran Public High School,
Sulliran, Missouri, 1941-42
Science instructor, Uhlrerslty of Missouri
Laboratory School, 1942-44
Instructor Clinical Pathology, Parasitology, and
Medical Baoteriology, School of Medicine,
Unlrerslty of Missouri, 1944-46
Instructor Biologioal Science, Michigan State College,
1946-48
Assistant Professor Biological Science, Michigan State
College, 1948-
Member of Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa, The National Association
for Research in Science Teaching, American Association for the
Adranoement of Science, American Association Unlrerslty Professors,
Society of Signs XI (associate)
tabu or commTs
CHAPTER PAGE
X. INTRODUCTION ..................................... 1
N««d for the study ............................... 17
Stitunt of the problem .... 19
Basle uinptlonf .......................... 19
Definition of t«rmi ........... 20
Limitations of tha study ....... 23
Organisation of tha thaala .......... 24
II. REVIEW OF LTORATURX ................................ 26
Review of the literature with respeot to the teras
defined in Chapter I .... 26
Review of elanentary and secondary school studies •• 31
Review of studies at college and unlversltr levels • 92
III. DESCRIPTION Of THE COURSE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE ...... 61
Organization of the course ......... 61
Course content ........... • ••• 63
Objectives for the course ........................ 96
Testing and final grade in the course ............ 70
IV. ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES OF THE INVESTIGATION ........ 79
Design of the investigation •••••••• ••...••••• 79
Procedures used in keeping the organisational plan
intact throughout the year .................. 03
Students in the study .................... 8®
▼
CHAPTER PAGS
Snplti in tho atudy ........ 98
7. THK TEACHING MATERIALS AMD THE METHODS USED Of THE
INVESTIGATION .................................... 95
LMturti dtalgud to toooh Mlantlflo thinking ... 96
Loeturos doalgnod to toooh only faotnal information • 15S
Solontlflo thinking mothod aa Implanontod In looturo
altoatlona •••••••.... 168
Doaerlptlro moth od aa Implamantod in looturo
altoatlona .................................... 147
Laboratory matorlala and proeodoroo doolgnod to toaeh
oelontlfio thinking ........ 151
Matorlala and proeoduroa uaod In tho laboratorloa
taught by tho dosorlptlro mothod of Inatruotlon .. 155
71. SOURCES AND TREATMENT OF DATA ...................... 160
Toata uaod In tho study .......... 160
Samploa oomparod in thla atudy • •.................. 175
Statlatleal mothoda uaod In thla atudy ..... 179
711. STUDWT ACHIEVEMENT ON THE FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... IBS
Roaulta at tho ond of tho fir at torn ......... IB®
Roaulta at tho ond of tho aooond torn............... 198
Roaulta at tho ond of tho third toxm ••••••••••...... 197
Studont progroaa with roapoot to a knoalodgo of
faotnal information .......... 197
Till. OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT AT THE END OF EACH TERM IN THE
COURSE ........................................... 805
Tl
CHAPTER PAOZ
Btsults at tha and of tha first tan ............... £04
Rasults at tha and of tha saeond tan ............ £04
Rasults at tha and of tha third tan ....... ••••••• £09
IX. STUDENT ABILITY TO THINK SCIENTIFICALLY ............ £13
Rasults and intarpratations ...••••••.......... • ••• £15
X. STUDENT ACQUISITION OF SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDES ......... ££4
What Do You Think? tast, Fom 1 - Rasults at tha and
of tha first tan .......... ................ ££7
What Do You Think? tast, Fon 1 - Rasults at tha and
of tha saoond tan .............................. • ££7
V/hat Do You Think? tast, Fon 1 - Rasults at tha and
of tha third tan ............... ............. . ££9
What Do You Think? tast, Fon £ - Rasults ........... £3£
Gains in selantlflo attltudss as asasursd by tha What
Do You Think? tast ..................... £33
Rasults - What Do You Think Relative to Osrtaln
Baliafs and Situations PortaIn lug to Biologioal
Soianea? tast ........................... 836
XX* SUMfcCARY AND CONCLUSIONS .............................. 848
Rasults • •••................................ 838
Conclusions ............................ 835
Educational implications ................. 857
Suggestions for further research .................. 859
LITERATURE CITED ............................................ 868
APPENDIX .................................................... 871
LIST OF TABUS
TABIX FAGS
I. Organization of tha Two Taaohlng Aaalgnaanta of Thla
^Experimental Study .... g£
II. Structural and Taaohlng Daalgn of tha Two Taaohlng
Assignments of Thi« Experimental Studjr ........ 76
III. Tina So had ula and Instructional Plan far Taaohlng
Aaalgnaont ”A", School Tear, 1949*00 ............... 79
IV. Tina So had ula and Instructional Plan for Teaching
Aaalgnmaat "B", School Tear, 1949*00 80
V. Students Enrolled and Bald in tha Two Taaohlng As alga*
mants Bach Tam In tha Coursa .... 86
VI. Student Attendance In tha Two Taaohlng Aaalgnaanta Bach
Tam In tha Course ............................... 88
VII. Students as to Sax and Status in School that Rsawlned
la tha Two Teaching Assignments Throughout tha School
Tear ............................................. 91
VIII. Iflohlgan State Collage Teacher-Rating Scale •••••••.•• 106
IX. Taaohar Evaluation Sheet * Michigan State Collage .... 109
X. Testa Used in tha Study ............................ 1*1
XI. Correlations Bataaan Scores on tha American Council
Psychological Examination and on tha Cooparatire
Collage Biology Tast ........... 1**
Till
TABLE PASS
XII* Itaai Plaoamant aa to Objaotlraa and Contant for tha
Coaiprehanaira Examination in Biologioal Seianoa,
Sparinc Tana, 1950 168
XIII* Correlations Batnaan Scoraa on tha American Council
Psyohologioal Examination and on tha Shat Do Ton
Think? Taat ..................................... 171
XIV* Maana on tha Cooparatira Collaga Biology Taat .... 184 A
XV. RalatlT' Sffaotlranaaa of tha Two Dlffarant Mathoda of
Taaohlng aa Infarrad from tha Analyaaa of Seoraa on
tha Cooparatira Collaga Biology Tast at tha Kid of
tha Flrat Tarn .................................. 106
XVI* Maana on tha Cooparatira Collaga Biology Taat at tha
End of tha Flrat Tam and Adjuatad Maana if F naa
Significant .............. 188
XVII. Ralatlra Sffaotlranaaa of tha Too Dlffarant Mathodao f
Taaohlng aa Infarred from tha Analyaaa of Sooraa on
tha Cooparatira CollagaB iology Taat at tha End of
tha Sac ond Tam...••••••..... *......... 195
XVIII* Maana on tha Cooparatira Collaga Biology Taat at tha
End of tha Sacond Tam and Adjuatad Maana if F naa
Significant •••••......... *................... 195
XIX. Ralatlra Sffaotlranaaa of tha Too Dlffarant Mathoda of
Taaohlng aa Infarrad from tha Analyaaa of Seoraa on
tha Cooparatira Collaga Biology Taat at tha End of
tha Third Tam .......... 198
ix
TABLE PAGE
XX. Itodlaai - Cooperative Coll*®* Biology T**t - Third
Till ................................................ £00
XXI* Means on th* Departmental Tem-End Iran 1 nation* . £00
XXII. R*l*tiT* Eff*etlr*n*ss of th* Too Different M*thod* of
Teaching ** Inf*rr*d from th* Analyses of Soor** on
th* Departmental T*r*-End Examination Administered
at th* Sad of th* Tlrst Term .................. £06
XXIII. Relative Eff*otlr*n*ss of th* Two Dlff*r*nt Mothod* of
Teaching n* Inf*rr*d from th* Analyses of Soor** on
th* Departmental Texw-End Examination Administered
at th* Bnd of th* S*eond T*rm ........ ......... £06
XXIV. ll*an* on th* Comprehensive Examination In Biologioal
Solano* ......................................... £10
XXV. Relative Eff*otIrenes* of th* Two Different Method* of
Teaching a* Inferred from th* Analyse* of Soor** on
th* Compr*h*nslr* Examination In Biologioal Soieno* £11
XXVI. Moans on th* Compr*h*nsir* Examination la Biologioal
Soieno* - Seisntlflo Thinking Tost and Adjusted
Means If F was Slgnlfleant ..... Bid
XXVII. Relatir* Eff*otlr*n*s* of th* Two Different Method* of
Taaohlng as Inferred from th* Analy*** of Soor** on
th* Compr*h*nslr* Examination In Biologioal Solenoe-
• Scientific Thinking T**t ...................... BIB
XXVIII. Means on th* What Do You Think? T**t, Form 1 .... 8B8