Deep time: Students¿ inventory and comparative analysis [Tiempo profundo: Estudiantes, inventario y análisis comparativo]

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Clara Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP; Dos Santos, JM (Author) Other; Almeida, A (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Science Education

Vol. 16 No. 2

Pages: 26-30

ISSN: 0124-5481

Publisher: Foundation Journal of Science Education

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-JAK

Abstract (EN): Time continues to attract a wide range of researchers from many areas, but its understanding from the point of view of education is still understudied. Assigned to James Hutton and away from biblical connotations, it remains difficulty to clarify the concept of geological time to students from primary, secondary and even higher education. The present study aimed at: (i) building a Students¿ Deep Time Inventory (SDTI), (ii) proceed with the validation of this inventory, and (iii) conducting profile based comparative analyses related to the perceptions of students in the subject of deep time. The SDTI was organized in a 5-point Likert format answer items and it was applied to a sample of 410 secondary school students, following its validation by Portuguese teachers and students. The profiles related to the deep time conceptualizations were analysed by calculating the Coefficient of Simple Congruency and the Configurational Similarity Coefficient. The comparison of the profile analysis undertaken with three months interval, before and after lecturing on this subject, revealed very close profiles, and still far from the ideal profile as it is recommended in the specialist literature. The discrepancies that were found may be related to the little relevance that is attributed to teaching the subject or else to the conceptual difficulties inherent to the clarification of the concept. As such, future research is needed to elucidate the causes and to promote solutions. © Fundación Revista de Educación de las Ciencias.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific