社会文化科学的有效性问题——马克斯·韦伯论因果关系的客观性

韦伯的科学学说,本质上是一种因果学说.在韦伯那里,社会文化科学的有效性取决于因果关系的客观性.本文考察了两种因果关系(因果法则与具体因果关系)的逻辑形式,以及与之对应的两种客观性(法则的客观性与价值关联的客观性),指出价值关联客观性对保证具体因果解释客观性的关键作用,并比较了李凯尔特与韦伯对价值关联客观性的论述,最终澄清了韦伯对社会文化科学有效性的看法.     

学生科学教学知觉对科学素养成绩影响的跨文化比较

教学是通过影响学生思维而达成对学业成绩的影响,知觉是思维的重要组成。本研究以国际学生评价项目PISA2006的数据为基础,考察美国、芬兰、日本和中国香港学生科学教学知觉对科学素养成绩的影响。研究结果发现,在控制学生背景变量的情况下,学生的科学教学知觉对科学素养成绩具有显著的预测作用;4个国家(地区)学生的教学知觉对科学成就的影响具有相似性,关注应用知觉和动手实验知觉显著地正向预测科学成就,而科学探究知觉和课堂交流知觉显著地反向预测科学成就;学生教学知觉对科学兴趣的影响存在一定的文化差异,美国学生的科学探究知觉和课堂交流知觉显著地正向预测科学兴趣,日本学生课堂交流知觉显著地正向预测科学兴趣。     

学习支持对基于计算机模拟的发现学习的影响

研究了针对发现活动的意义性的解释性支持 (IS)、针对其系统逻辑性的实验性支持 (ES)以及学习者的推理能力对基于模拟的科学发现学习的影响。设计开发了关于浮力的模拟软件 ,被试为北京十四中初二学生 80名 ,采用 2 (有 /无IS)× 2 (有 /无ES)× 3(推理能力 )的混合实验设计。结果发现 ,推理能力在原理性知识、直觉性理解测验以及学习者所设计实验的质量上有显著的主效应。IS在原理性知识和灵活应用测验上有显著的主效应。ES与推理能力在原理性知识测验上有显著的交互作用 ,ES在学习者所设计实验的质量上有显著的主效应。这一结果说明 ,发现活动的意义性和系统逻辑性对基于模拟的发现学习有重要的制约作用 ,应该针对这两个侧面设计相应的学习支持     

小学科学探究式教学初探

新课程改革,实施科学探究,要注意营造一个有利于探究教学的环境,探究教学的安排要由易到难,探究教学的设计要考虑学生已有的经验和能力水平,转变学生的学习方式,而转变学生的学习方式就是要把学习过程中的发现、探究、研究等认识活动突显出来,使学习过程更多地成为学生发现问题,提出问题、分析问题、解决问题的过程.学习方式的转变意味教师必须改变课堂教学模式.所以改变学生的学习方式并不仅仅针对学生而言,也促使教师在教育观念、教学方式的转变,通常从四个方面引导学生进行科学探究.     

中学生英语学习策略水平及其与英语学业成绩的相关研究

本研究运用《学生学习策略评价表》对安徽省两所中学的239名学生进行调查,考察中学生的英语学习策略水平及其与英语学业成绩的关系.结果发现:(1)中学生英语学习中经常使用的学习策略多集中于认知和调控策略.(2)省示范高中与一般中学学生在英语学习策略存在显著差异.性别上则不存在显著差异.(3)中学生的英语学习策略及其认知和调控策略与学生学业成绩之间呈显著正相关,交际和资源策略与学生的学业成绩则没有显著相关.     

跨学科概念图创作能力与科学创造力的关系

采用科学领域的跨学科概念图创作任务, 探讨了跨学科概念图创作能力与科学创造力的关系。研究发现：（1）跨学科概念图创作能力与科学创造力显著正相关;（2）概念图创作的命题、交叉连接与创造力的流畅性、独创性、灵活性显著相关;交叉连接与独创性显著相关;（3）跨学科概念图创作能力的个体差异表现在科学创造力的各个方面。研究表明,跨学科概念图创作任务与科学创造力测验考察了学习者相似的心理能力;跨学科概念图创作不仅可以用于促进跨学科信息整合和知识建构,还可以作为理解学习者创造性思维能力的有效工具     

高中生的英语学习策略及其影响因素的研究

现有的研究表明,学生的英语成绩会受到学习策略、观念和自我效能感的影响.本文在回顾现有研究成果和相关理论的基础上,采用访谈和问卷调查相结合的方法,对高中生的英语成绩、学习策略、观念和自我效能感的关系进行研究,进一步讨论高中生的英语学习策略的影响因素和路径,得出以下结论:一、英语学习策略、学习观念、自我效能感、英语成绩之间的相关显著,英语成绩受认知记忆策略的影响最大;二、最常用的英语学习策略是补偿策略、记忆认知策略和元认知策略;三、影响高中生英语学习策略掌握的主要自我效能感因素为学习能力和挑战心,主要学习观念因素是方法和自信.     

动机对高一学生创造性的科学问题提出能力的影响

选取了360名高一学生,采用直接和间接激发内外动机的方式,通过两个研究考察了内外动机和不同水平的外部动机对中学生创造性的科学问题提出能力的影响,结果发现:(1)直接激发条件下,内部动机能够促进创造性的科学问题提出能力,尤其表现在流畅性以及独创性维度上;(2)直接激发条件下,外部动机能够抑制创造性的科学问题提出能力,尤其表现在独创性维度上;(3)评价情境不同引起的不同的动机水平对于创造性的科学问题提出能力的影响是不同的,期待正性评价不影响创造性的科学问题提出能力,但避免负性评价对创造性的科学问题提出能力有着显著的抑制作用.     

小学科学前概念转变的教学策略

在小学科学教学中,如何将学生在日常生活中的前科学概念转变为科学概念值得我们去深入探究。笔者通过近几年的实践和对一些相关理论、案例的学习,就怎样将前概念转变为科学概念的方法,谈谈自己粗浅的认识。     

数学学习策略的实验研究

本研究在对北京市六所中学437名初二年级学生数学学习动机和策略调查研究的基础上,选取普通中学257名初二学生为被试,考察了数学学习策略训练的不同方法、不同时间和不同性别对训练效果的影响。结果表明:(1)不同的策略训练方法(讨论法、学生出声思维与实验人员指导相结合、教师随堂渗透讲授)影响训练效果;(2)策略训练时间的因素影响训练效果;(3)性别因素也对训练效果有一定影响。     

University students' learning approaches in three cultures: an investigation of Biggs's 3P model

The relationship of various learning approaches to students' academic achievement, abilities, and other characteristics was examined in a sample of university students in Hong Kong, mainland China, and the United States. The theoretical framework for this project was J. B. Biggs's (1987) theory of student learning approaches. The participants completed the Study Process Questionnaire (based on Biggs's theory) and provided a variety of demographic information. The participants' achievement scores and self-rated scores on analytical, creative, and practical abilities were also obtained. Results indicated that scores on certain subscales of the Study Process Questionnaire statistically predicted participants' achievement beyond their self-rated abilities. In addition, certain learning approaches were significantly related to the participants' ages, gender, parents' education levels, and their travel and work experiences. Implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to teaching and learning.     

刻板印象威胁对学习困难中学生成就动机的影响

研究探讨学习困难中学生的刻板印象威胁及其对成就动机的影响。研究1采用实验法诱发学习困难中学生的刻板印象威胁,研究表明刻板印象威胁阻碍学习困难中学生心理旋转任务表现的提高。研究2在刻板印象威胁情境中,采用问卷法测量学习困难中学生的成就动机,刻板印象威胁组被试相比于对照组的成就动机水平较低,回避失败动机较高。研究3在刻板印象威胁诱发后加入自我肯定操纵,结果发现自我肯定组被试与对照组相比成就动机水平较高,回避失败动机水平较低。     

具有创造成就的科学家关于创造的概念结构

运用Q分类及多尺度分析方法,研究具有创造成就的科学家关于创造成就的概念结构。被试是30名来自物理、化学、数学、地学和生命科学领域的具有创造成就的科学家。研究发现,具有创造成就的科学家关于创造成就的概念结构由“成就取向/内心体验取向”、“主动进取/踏实肯干”两个维度构成;取得科学创造成就的重要特征是“成就取向”和“主动进取”。作者进一步讨论了主动进取对于取得创造性成就的意义     

场独立/场依存对超媒体学习的影响:模糊容忍性的调节作用

以285名大学生为被试,自编超媒体学习系统,考察模糊容忍性在场独立/场依存和超媒体学习成绩间关系的调节作用。发现:(1)控制其他变量后,场独立倾向和模糊容忍性间呈显著负相关;(2)控制其他变量后,模糊容忍性显著正向预测超媒体学习成绩;(3)在场独立/场依存对超媒体学习成绩的影响中,模糊容忍性起到了调节作用。结果表明,模糊容忍性能够"补偿"场依存型学习者在超媒体学习中的认知"弱势"。     

Individual Differences in Early Scientific Thinking: Assessment,Cognitive Influences,and Their Relevance for Science Learning

ABSTRACT

Early scientific thinking in kindergarten (6-year-olds) was investigated in a large study involving 227 participants. We investigated (1) whether individual differences across 3 scientific-thinking components (experimentation, data interpretation, and understanding the nature of science) are stable across children, (2) whether children’s increased information-processing skills (intelligence, language abilities) and their development of an advanced theory of mind (AToM) are potential mechanisms that bring about individual differences in scientific thinking, and (3) whether individual differences in scientific thinking predict individual differences in science content knowledge. Using a newly developed instrument with 30 items (the Science-K inventory), we found that a one-dimensional Rasch model provides a good fit to the data, showing that kindergarteners’ scientific thinking goes beyond competencies in single tasks. Individual differences across the diverse scientific-thinking tasks were stable, and children’s scientific thinking was correlated with their intelligence and their language abilities. AToM was an important precursor for scientific thinking, predicting it independently from the influences of information-processing skills. Children’s science content knowledge was predicted by their score on the Science-K inventory. This finding points to a specific relation between these 2 components of scientific literacy, and it supports the view that scientific-thinking skills help to better test and revise (wrong) beliefs and misconceptions about science. Our study is the first to reveal substantial individual differences in scientific thinking in children as young as kindergarteners, and it shows that scientific thinking is important for a successful learning of science concepts, even before children enter formal schooling and begin science education.     

We Value What Values Us: The Appeal of Identity-Affirming Science

Members of the public (Study 1; n =  184) and university students (Study 2; n =  101) evaluated a piece of research and indicated their support for its continuation. The research findings were held constant, but the methods that revealed those findings were attributed to either neuroscience or social science, and the conclusions based on those findings were biased either in favor of men or in favor of women. Study 1 revealed that participants were more positive about research that affirmed their gender identity and that was based on neuroscience rather than social science. Study 2 found this pattern to be apparent in more specialist samples. Indeed, participants with some scientific training were more influenced by research that affirmed the reader's gender identity. Participants with less scientific training, in comparison, were more influenced by the type of science described when making judgments about the value of the research. Contrary to popular claims, this suggests that scientific knowledge alone is no protection against the effects of bias on research evaluation. Implications for the practice and popularization of science are discussed.     

Academic Self-Schemas and their Self-Congruent Learning Patterns: Findings Verified with Culturally Different Samples

This paper reported two studies investigating high school students’ academic self-schemas in learning mathematics and their self-congruent learning engagement patterns. Using cluster analyses, Study 1 located two contrasting groups of students holding positive and negative self-schemas in learning mathematics among Chinese participants. MANOVA analyses showed that these two groups of Chinese schematic students differed from each other in the use of achievement goals, approaches to learning, and expected levels of performance. These findings were validated and extended in Study 2 using a culturally different sample, Australian students. Again, cluster analyses successfully classified Australian participants into positive and negative schematic clusters. It was also found that these two groups of schematic students approached learning mathematics in a self-congruent manner similar to those found in Study 1. The converging results in both studies lent empirical support to the theoretical formulation of positive and negative schematic students and the validity of using the self-schema concept to investigate motivation and learning. The differences in their learning engagement patterns were discussed in terms of students’ different academic self-schemas in learning mathematics.     

Evoked prior learning experience and approach to learning as predictors of academic achievement

Background. In separate studies and research from different perspectives, five factors are found to be among those related to higher quality outcomes of student learning (academic achievement). Those factors are higher self‐efficacy, deeper approaches to learning, higher quality teaching, students’ perceptions that their workload is appropriate, and greater learning motivation. University learning improvement strategies have been built on these research results. Aim. To investigate how students’ evoked prior experience, perceptions of their learning environment, and their approaches to learning collectively contribute to academic achievement. This is the first study to investigate motivation and self‐efficacy in the same educational context as conceptions of learning, approaches to learning and perceptions of the learning environment. Sample. Undergraduate students (773) from the full range of disciplines were part of a group of over 2,300 students who volunteered to complete a survey of their learning experience. On completing their degrees 6 and 18 months later, their academic achievement was matched with their learning experience survey data. Method. A 77‐item questionnaire was used to gather students’ self‐report of their evoked prior experience (self‐efficacy, learning motivation, and conceptions of learning), perceptions of learning context (teaching quality and appropriate workload), and approaches to learning (deep and surface). Academic achievement was measured using the English honours degree classification system. Analyses were conducted using correlational and multi‐variable (structural equation modelling) methods. Results. The results from the correlation methods confirmed those found in numerous earlier studies. The results from the multi‐variable analyses indicated that surface approach to learning was the strongest predictor of academic achievement, with self‐efficacy and motivation also found to be directly related. In contrast to the correlation results, a deep approach to learning was not related to academic achievement, and teaching quality and conceptions of learning were only indirectly related to achievement. Conclusions. Research aimed at understanding how students experience their learning environment and how that experience relates to the quality of their learning needs to be conducted using a wider range of variables and more sophisticated analytical methods. In this study of one context, some of the relations found in earlier bivariate studies, and on which learning intervention strategies have been built, are not confirmed when more holistic teaching–learning contexts are analysed using multi‐variable methods.     

Building Links Between Early Socioeconomic Status,Cognitive Ability,and Math and Science Achievement

The present study examined whether and how socioeconomic status (SES) predicts school achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) using structural equation modeling and data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Child Care and Youth Development. The present inquiry addresses gaps in previous research linking SES and STEM achievement in high school. Results indicate that maternal education predicts the child’s early environment, which itself predicts the development of executive function (EF) and language, and thereby, STEM achievement. Moreover, children’s language ability and EF development influenced higher-order cognitive skills, such as relational reasoning, planning, and basic calculation skills. However, only relational reasoning strongly predicted high school math and science achievement, suggesting that relational reasoning, but not planning and calculation skills, was central to STEM thinking and learning.     

先前学业成就与学习动机、策略的关系:学业情绪的中介作用

采用整群抽样法抽取高中生670名,分别用学业情绪问卷、学习动机问卷和学习策略问卷来探讨学业情绪在先前学业成就与学习动机、学习策略之间的中介作用。以学业情绪的控制-价值理论和认知-动机模型为基础,运用偏差矫正百分位的非参数Bootstrap法对学业情绪的中介作用进行检验,结果发现:积极学业情绪在先前学业成就与学习策略、学习动机间起完全中介效应;消极学业情绪在先前学业成就与学习策略、学习动机间起部分中介效应。