Exploring undergraduate students’ scientific reasoning in the force and motion concept

Abstract

This research investigates the abilities of undergraduate students to apply scientific reasoning in Indonesia, with a particular focus on the concept of force and motion. Forty-three first-year undergraduate students from an Indonesian private institution, comprising 20 males and 23 females, performed the Scientific Reasoning Test of Motion (SRTM) in five different patterns of scientific reasoning. The current research combines quantitative and qualitative analysis. The findings reveal that the SRTM is a valid and reliable instrument. While no significant gender-based differences were observed in Correlational Thinking (CT), differences emerged in Control of Variables (CV), Proportional Thinking (PPT), Probabilistic Thinking (PBT), and Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning (HDR). These results indicate that PBT, HDR, and CT are applicable across gender groups, although students struggle with scientific reasoning. Specifically, the students had misconceptions regarding projectile motion and applying Newton’s second law in practical situations. These findings indicate the necessity for further developing students’ abilities to apply scientific reasoning.

Keywords

• Scientific reasoning
• gender
• motion
• force
• physics
• Sammy King Fai HUI, the Education University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG