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The conceptual understanding of scientific principles in Home Economics

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Abstract

This paper stresses the importance of scientific understanding as part of Home Economics courses and describes how personal misconceptions can interfere with this understanding. It examines the misconceptions held by third level undergraduate students of a basic scientific principle used in the cooking of food, that of boiling, and compares these misconceptions with those of second level pupils commencing their formal education in science. Little difference is reported between the two groups in terms of the misconceptions held. The effectiveness of a teaching methodology based on a ‘constructivist’ view of knowledge, that of ‘cognitive conflict’, in changing misconceptions is reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. Catherine's College of Education for Home Economics, Dublin, Ireland

    Paul McElwee

  2. Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    Paul McElwee

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  1. Paul McElwee
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McElwee, P. The conceptual understanding of scientific principles in Home Economics. Int J Technol Des Educ 3, 5–17 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00183703

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