Students’ conceptions about animal ethics

The benefit of moral metaphors for fostering decision-making competence

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21589911
AutoresNadine Tramowsky (0000-0003-1174-506X, University of Education Freiburg, autor correspondente), Denis Messig (0000-0001-6508-7504, University of Bamberg), Jorge Groß (0000-0002-3525-9448, University of Bamberg)
Ano2022
Volume44
Fascículo3
Páginas355-378
Data de publicação2022-02-11
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Science Education, Part B (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2154-8455 • E-ISSN: 2154-8463
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09500693.2022.2028924
OpenAlexW4221003356
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas33

The analysis of students' conceptions is a crucial element in modern science education research. Based on a large number of studies, we know that learning environments should build upon students' existing knowledge to initiate conceptual change towards an adequate scientific understanding. This also holds true when it comes to moral reasoning. In this case, the implementation of educational standards, such as decision-making competence, strongly relies on students' conceptions about ethical issues. In this study the Conceptual Metaphor Theory is used empirically in order to analyse students' language in regard to conceptual metaphors. To date, little educational research exists on the effects of moral metaphors in science education. For this reason, we conducted a two-part qualitative interview study (n = 9 + 6 and 6) in order to identify German high-school students' moral conceptions about animal ethics. The conceptions were identified and analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. A key finding can be seen in the underlying embodied conceptions and image schemas that are in particular linked to human well-being. Apparently, students use these metaphorical thinking patterns and are therefore capable of conceiving abstract conceptions about animal ethics. As a consequence, we propose an alternative approach in order to foster decision-making competence

Cognition · Conceptual change · Conceptual metaphor · Embodied cognition · Epistemology · German · Metaphor · Pedagogy · Qualitative research · Science education · Social science · Sociology · Animal and Plant Science Education · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Psychology · Science Education and Pedagogy · Social Psychology