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The Novice-Expert Continuum in Astronomy Knowledge
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Metadata
Title
The Novice-Expert Continuum in Astronomy Knowledge
Abstract
The nature of expertise in astronomy was investigated across a broad spectrum of ages and experience in China and New Zealand. Five hypotheses (capable of quantification and statistical analysis) were used to probe types of expertise identified by previous researchers: (a) domainspecific knowledge-skill in the use of scientific vocabulary and language and recognising
relationships between concepts in linguistic and schematic forms; (b) higher-order theory in terms of conceptual structure and enriched scientific knowledge and reasoning; with an expectation of cultural similarity. There were 993 participants in all, age 3–80 years, including 68 junior school pupils; 68 pre-school pupils; 112 middle-school students; 109 high-school
students; 79 physics undergraduates; 60 parents; 136 pre-service primary teachers; 131 preservice secondary teachers; 72 primary teachers; 78 secondary teachers; 50 amateur astronomers and astronomy educators; and 30 astronomers and physicists; with approximately equal numbers of each group in both cultures; and of boys and girls in the case of children. For them, the methodology utilised Piagetian interviews with three media (verbal language, drawing, playdough modelling), and for adults a questionnaire inviting responses in writing and drawing was used. The data from each group were categorised into ordinal scales and then analysed by means of Kolmogorov–Smirnov two-sample tests. The findings supported the hypotheses with evidence of all forms of expertise increasing with experience in both cultures (a level 0.05). The relative gains, overlaps and deficits in expertise across the novice-expert continuum are explored in detail.
Date
01/01/2012
Type of Publication
Author(s)
Bryce, Tom G. K. | Blown, Eric J.
Content
Celestial Motion > Day and Night | Planetary Sciences > Earth | Celestial Motion > Eclipses | Gravity | Celestial Motion > Lunar Phases | Celestial Motion > Seasons/Yearly Cycles | Stars > Sun
Construct
Methodology
Research Setting
Target Group
Adult Learners | Students > College Students | Teachers > In-Service | Students > Middle School Students | Other | Teachers > Pre-Service | Students > Primary/Elementary School Students | Students > Secondary School Students
Institution(s)
University of Strathclyde
Journal Name
International Journal of Science Education
Peer-Reviewed Status
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Volume
34
Issue Number
4
ISSN
0950-0693 (Print), 1464-5289 (Online)
Resource Type
Nation(s) of Study
United Kingdom | China | New Zealand
Language
English