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Positive or negative? The effects of scientific inquiry on science achievement via attitudes toward science

Bibliographic Data

ID21392955
AuthorsZhi Hong Wan (0000-0002-8163-5862, Department of Curriculum and Instruction The Education University of Hong Kong Ting Kok Hong Kong), Ying Zhan (0000-0002-0919-8266, Education University of Hong Kong), Yanan Zhang (0000-0003-3836-4232, School of Education Renmin University of China Beijing China, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume108
Issue1
Pages3-24
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-8326 • E-ISSN: 1098-237X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sce.21825
OpenAlexW4385768976
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited57

Science education researchers and curriculum documents have advocated scientific inquiry for more than six decades; however, inconsistent findings concerning its effects on students' learning outcomes have been revealed in recent analyses of large‐scale international assessment data (e.g., the Programme for International Student Assessment [PISA]). This has evoked considerable concern given the significant role that inquiry plays in science education. To unpack the complex influence of inquiry on science achievement, this study used the PISA 2015 data from eight Western or East Asian regions to explore the effects of inquiry on students' science achievement and the mediation of attitudes toward science. The results indicated that despite the negative effects that the investigation aspect of inquiry had on science achievement, the explanation aspect of inquiry had positive effects on science achievement for the Western, East Asian, and whole samples. When all of the effects of both the investigation and explanation aspects were integrated, the overall influence of inquiry on students' science achievement was found to be positive for the whole and East Asian samples and slightly negative for the Western sample. This study highlights the necessity of considering different facets of inquiry and different types of effects when investigating the effects of inquiry on science achievement and achieving a better balance between the investigation and explanation processes when implementing inquiry in school classrooms

Academic achievement · Achievement test · Curriculum · Geography · Mathematics education · Mediation · Nature of Science · Pedagogy · Scale (ratio) · Science education · Science learning · Social science · Sociology · Standardized test · Education and Critical Thinking Development · Educational Strategies and Epistemologies · Psychology · Science Education and Pedagogy

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Unique citing works6
Citations per year6
Citation span2025 - 2026 (2)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 6
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