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The MACH model for explaining molecular mechanisms: themes across multiple disciplines (618.18)
Author(s) -
Trujillo Caleb,
Anderson Trevor,
Pelaez Nancy
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.618.18
Subject(s) - mechanism (biology) , context (archaeology) , narrative , epistemology , cognitive science , domain (mathematical analysis) , foundation (evidence) , data science , computer science , psychology , biology , paleontology , mathematical analysis , philosophy , linguistics , history , mathematics , archaeology
Constructing explanations is essential for both science and learning. This study addresses the question, “What are the essential aspects of biology experts’ explanations of cellular and molecular mechanisms within their domain?” To address this question we first built on previous work and our own thought experiments to derive an initial model about mechanistic explanations. Secondly, we tested the validity of the initial model by asking seven biologists from various sub‐disciplines, to explain a cellular mechanism of their choice. Data was collected from interviews, artifacts and drawings and subjected to thematic analysis. We found that biologists: use our initial mechanistic model of molecular explanation by focusing on entities, activities, and organization. But in addition, they highly contextualize and constrain their explanations according to biological and societal significance; integrate explanations with the methods, instruments, and measurements they use to investigate; and use narrative stories along with analogies to explain their systems. These themes informed a modified model of expert‐like explanations of cellular mechanisms. Expert explanations consider four components: the Methods (M), Analogies (A), Context (C), and How (H) the mechanism works. Our model will provide a foundation for future work in life science education research, as well as other science domains, and offers a way to teach explicitly about components of biological mechanisms.