Skip to main content
Log in

The Effect of Cooperative Learning Approach Based on Conceptual Change Condition on Students' Understanding of Chemical Equilibrium Concepts

  • Published:
Journal of Science Education and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the cooperative learning approach based on conceptual change conditions over traditional instruction on 10th grade students' conceptual understanding and achievement of computational problems related to chemical equilibrium concepts. The subjects of this study consisted of 87 tenth grade students from two intact classes of a Chemistry Course instructed by the same teacher. One of the classes was randomly assigned as the experimental group, which was instructed with cooperative learning approach based on conceptual change conditions and the other class was assigned as the control group, which was instructed with traditional instruction. Chemical Equilibrium Concept Test (CECT) was administered to the experimental and the control groups as pre- and post-tests to measure the students' conceptual understanding, and Chemical Equilibrium Achievement Test (CEAT) was administered to the experimental and the control groups as a post-test to measure the students' achievements related to computational problems. Science Process Skills Test was used at the beginning of the study to determine the students' science process skills. Multivariate Analysis of Covariate (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. The results showed that students in the experimental group had better conceptual understanding, and achievement of computational problems related to the chemical equilibrium concepts. Furthermore, students' science process skills were accounted for a significant portion of variations in conceptual understanding and achievements related to the computational problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Banerjee, A. (1991). Misconceptions of students and teachers in chemical equilibrium. International Journal of Science Education 13: 487–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee, A., and Power, C. (1991). The development of modules for the teaching of chemical equilibrium. International Journal of Science Education 13: 355–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, D. (1976). From Communication to Curriculum. Penguin, Middlesex, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Basili, P. A., and Sanford, J. P. (1991). Conceptual change and cooperative group work in chemistry. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 28: 293–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergquist, W., and Heikkinen, H. (1990). Student ideas regarding chemical equilibrium. Journal of Chemical Education 67: 1000–1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. E. (1992). Using examples and analogies to remediate misconceptions in physics: Factors influencing conceptual change. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 29: 17– 34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. E., and Clement, J. (1989). Overcoming misconceptions via analogical reasoning; Abstract transfer versus explanatory model construction. Instructional Science 18: 237–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, J., Okey, J., and Wise, K. (1985). Development of an integrated process skill test. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 22: 169–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagher, Z. R. (1994). Does the use of analogies contribute to conceptual change? Science Education 78: 601–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duit, R. (1991). On the role of analogies and metaphors in learning science. Science Education 75: 649–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dykstra, D. I., Boyle, C. F., and Monarch, I. A. (1992). Study of conceptual change in learning physics. Science Education 76: 615–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esiobu, G. O., and Soyibo, K. (1995). Effects of concept and vee mapping under three learning modes on students’ cognitive achievement in ecology and genetics. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 32: 971–995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorodetsky, M., and Gussarsky, E. (1986). Misconceptions of the chemical equilibrium concept as revealed by different evaluation methods. European Journal of Science Education 8: 427–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorodetsky, M., and Gussarsky, E. (1990). On the concept “chemical equilibrium”: The associative framework. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 27: 197–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hackling, W. M., and Garnett, J. P. (1985). Misconception of chemical equilibrium. European Journal of Science Education 7: 205–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hameed, H., Hackling, M. W., and Garnett, P. J. (1993). Facilitating conceptual change in chemical equilibrium using a CAI strategy. International Journal of Science Education 15: 221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. G., and Treagust, D. F. (1994). Science analogies—Avoid misconceptions with this systematic approach. The Science Teacher 61: 41–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herron, J. D. (1996). The Chemistry Classroom: Formulas for Successful Teaching. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hywood, D. (2002). The place of analogies in science education. Cambridge Journal of Education 33: 233–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. T., and Johnson, D. W. (1986). Encouraging Student/Student Interaction. National Association for Research in Science Teaching. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED:266960), Washington, DC.

  • Kalman, C. S., Morris, S., Cotting, C., and Gordon, R. (1997). Promoting conceptual change using collaborative groups in quantitative gateway courses. American Journal of Physics 67: 45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, A. (1993). The importance of analogy. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 30: 1213–1214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metsela, J. L., and Glynn, S. (1996). Teaching with analogies: Building on the science textbook. The Reading Teacher 49: 490–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niaz, M. (1998). A Lakatosian conceptual change teaching strategy based on students ability to build models with varying degrees of conceptual understanding of chemical equilibrium. Science and Education 7: 107–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, J., and Novick, S. (1982a). A study of conceptual change in the classroom. Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Lake Geneva near Chicago.

  • Nussbaum, J., and Novick, S. (1982b). Alternative frameworks, conceptual conflict and accommodation: Toward a principled teaching strategy. Instructional Science 11: 183–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posner, G. J., Strike, K. A., Hewson, P. W., and Gertzag, W. A. (1982). Accommodation of a scientific conception: Toward a theory of conceptual change. Science Education 66: 211–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quilez, P. J., and Solaz, J. J. (1995). Students’ and Teachers’ Misapplication of LeChatelier’s Principle: Implications for the Teaching of Chemical Equilibrium. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 32: 939–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell, J. A., and Dawson, C. J. (1983). Laboratory counter examples and the growth of understanding in science. European Journal of Science Education 5: 203–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slavin, R. (1983). Cooperative Learning. Logman, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. P., diSessa, A. A., and Roschelle, J. (1993). Misconceptions reconceived: A constructivist analysis of knowledge in transition. Journal of the learning Sciences 3: 115–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swafford, J., and Bryan, J. K. (2000). Instructional strategies for promoting conceptual change: Supporting middle school students. Reading and Writing Quarterly 16: 139– 162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voska, K. W., and Heikkinen, H. W. (2000). Identification and analysis of student conceptions used to solve chemical equilibrium problems. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 32: 160–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinfurt, K. P. (1995). Multivariate analysis of variance. In Grimm, L. G., and Yarnold, P. R. (Eds.), Reading and Understanding Multivariate Statistics. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, pp. 245–276.

  • Wheeler, A. E., and Kass, H. (1978). Student misconception in chemical equilibrium. Science Education 62: 223–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. H. (1998). Equilibrium: A teaching/learning activity. Journal of Chemical Education 9: 1176–1178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yager, R. E. (1991). The constructivist learning model. The Science Teacher September: 52–57.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to İbrahim Bilgin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bilgin, İ., Geban, Ö. The Effect of Cooperative Learning Approach Based on Conceptual Change Condition on Students' Understanding of Chemical Equilibrium Concepts. J Sci Educ Technol 15, 31–46 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-006-0354-z

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-006-0354-z

Keywords

Navigation