Open AccessUniversity students’ causal reasoning dealing with RC circuits
Author(s) -
Ane Leniz,
Kristina Zuza,
Jenaro Guisasola
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1287/1/012021
Subject(s) - causal reasoning , mathematics education , macro , state (computer science) , simple (philosophy) , scientific reasoning , psychology , computer science , cognition , epistemology , algorithm , programming language , philosophy , neuroscience
This study examines university students causal reasoning when tackling electric current in transitory situations. A questionnaire with emphasis on explanations was used to analyse students’ reasoning. The results obtained show that a significant percentage of students cannot correctly interpret simple transitory state current phenomena. Their explanations fall into two general categories: one based on potential difference and one that excludes current flow in processes of transitory state. We look at a number of aspects that have been little mentioned in previous research, for example, the reasoning university students use when establishing macro-micro relationships and some difficulties with complex reasoning.