Premium
Analysis of verbal interactions during an extended, open‐inquiry general chemistry laboratory investigation
Author(s) -
Krystyniak Rebecca A.,
Heikkinen Henry W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of research in science teaching
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.067
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1098-2736
pISSN - 0022-4308
DOI - 10.1002/tea.20218
Subject(s) - mathematics education , psychology , chemistry , science education , axial coding , coding (social sciences) , pedagogy , grounded theory , qualitative research , sociology , social science , theoretical sampling
This study explores effects of participation by second‐semester college general chemistry students in an extended, open‐inquiry laboratory investigation. Verbal interactions among a student lab team and with their instructor over three open‐inquiry laboratory sessions and two non‐inquiry sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Coding categories were developed using the constant comparison method. Findings indicate that, during open‐inquiry activities, the student team interacted less often, sought less instructor guidance, and talked less about chemistry concepts than during their non‐inquiry activities. Evidence suggests that the students employed science process skills and engaged in higher‐order thinking during both types of laboratory activities. Implications for including open‐inquiry experiences in general chemistry laboratory programs on student understanding of science as inquiry are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 44: 1160–1186, 2007