Premium
Young students' understanding of the relationship between inheritance and variation of traits using structural equation modeling
Author(s) -
Ibourk Amal,
Williams Michelle,
Opperman Amanda,
Cisterna Dante,
Nazar Christina Restrepo,
Xie Yiyu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
science education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.209
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1098-237X
pISSN - 0036-8326
DOI - 10.1002/sce.21470
Subject(s) - heredity , normative , variation (astronomy) , inheritance (genetic algorithm) , psychology , confirmatory factor analysis , developmental psychology , structural equation modeling , science education , genetic inheritance , social psychology , mathematics education , epistemology , biology , genetics , computer science , philosophy , physics , machine learning , astrophysics , gene
Genetics has become increasingly important in everyday life, a fact that is reflected in state and national science education standards. This study examines the relationship between 474 fifth graders' understandings of the core ideas of inheritance of traits and variation of traits . A confirmatory factor analysis, supplemented with qualitative analyses of students’ responses, revealed a relationship between these concepts and contributed evidence about the nature of students' challenges in learning these ideas. While most students demonstrated some normative ideas, many struggled to explain variation of traits as resulting from equal inheritance of genetic information from two parents. Instead, they focused on generational patterns of visible traits or on the influence of nongenetic factors. Deepening understanding of young students' heredity‐related thinking can improve preparation of older students for learning advanced genetics‐related ideas.