Empirical Studies on the Transformation to Scientific Concepts Focusing on Individual Differences Based on the Inhibition Model

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K13657
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09080:Science education-related
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Harada Yuki 秋田大学, 教育文化学部, 講師 (40883426)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 素朴概念 / 科学概念 / 実行機能 / 抑制

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to test the proposition that "naive concepts remain in the brain as representations that are automatically recalled even after the acquisition of scientific concepts," and to examine the detailed processing mechanisms of both scientific and naive concepts. The research primarily focused on the explicit naive concept prevalent in early childhood, "moving objects are alive," and confirmed its existence in adults through experimental procedures. Reaction time measures revealed that even adults take longer to judge "plants are alive" compared to "animals are alive." Additionally, event-related potentials suggested that in the early stages, there is an automatic activation of naive concepts followed by their suppression, and subsequently, the mobilization of cognitive resources.

Free Research Field

科学教育

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

素朴概念と科学概念は，理科教育領域では重要な研究テーマである。理科教育では古くから，科学的な概念が獲得されたはずの段階を経た後でも，また素朴概念の状態に後戻りしたり，そもそも科学概念の獲得が難しい児童生徒が存在したりすることが知られていた。概念変容を扱った理論やモデルは多数提案されてきたが，統一的見解を欠くこと，理論内部に観察不能な概念または反証不能な命題が含まれていることが問題であった。本研究で精緻化を目指した抑制モデルは，実験心理学的手法によって実証的に素朴概念と科学概念の表象形式を検討することが可能である点で，これまでの理科教育研究とは異なるアプローチでこの問題に挑戦できる利点がある。