Investigating 12Th Grade Students' Cognitive Structures about the Atom Concept Using Different Assessment Tools
Özet
The main purpose of this study was to investigate 12th grade students cognitive structures about the atom concept with the help of concept mapping, semi structured interview, and drawing tools. 299 students from five schools in Ankara (four schools were state high schools, one was a private high school) were involved in this study in the fall and spring semesters of 2013-2014 academic year. The students had drawn concept maps. In addition, 37 students, randomly selected among 299 students, have involved in semi structured interviews and drew an image of an atom on a piece of paper.The results obtained from the analysis of all three assessment tools revealed that most students conceived the atom s structure in terms of classical and or semi classical atomic models. In particular, the results indicated that the Bohr model had a strong influence on students cognitive structures.
