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Primary and secondary school students' attainment of science investigation skills

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Abstract

A practical test instrument was developed to assess students' attainment of skills associated with problem analysis and planning experiments, collecting information, organising and interpreting information, and concluding. Students verbalised their thoughts as they worked on the task and their performance was videotaped for analysis. Data collected from Year 7, 10 and 12 science students illustrate the development of investigation skills and reveal important areas of student weakness.

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Specialisations: Science teacher education, development of problem-solving expertise, concept development and conceptual change, assessment of laboratory work.

Specialisations: Chemistry education, concept development and conceptual change, role of laboratory work.

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Hackling, M.W., Garnett, P.J. Primary and secondary school students' attainment of science investigation skills. Research in Science Education 21, 161–170 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02360469

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