The Method of Observation in Science Education: Characteristic Dimensions from an Educational Perspective-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

The Method of Observation in Science Education: Characteristic Dimensions from an Educational Perspective

Published:2023-02-28 Issue: Volume: Page:
ISSN:0926-7220
Container-title:Science & Education
language:en
Short-container-title:Sci & Educ

Author:

Kraus Simon F.^ORCID

Abstract

AbstractObservation is widely regarded as a fundamental way of studying nature. However, due to its complexity, proposing a comprehensive characterization is challenging. Observation is a method of studying nature that can be divided into several dimensions. Each of these dimensions can be presented as a pair of terms, which are elaborated in this paper based on the epistemological, philosophical, and educational literature. In addition, the dimensions can be assigned to two levels, which can be used to group the individual dimensions. This epistemological perspective on the method is enriched by historical examples from different periods in physics and astronomy to substantiate and illustrate the classifications. The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of the epistemological features of the method in terms of these dimensions, which may be helpful for discussions in teacher training courses.

Funder

Universität Siegen

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Education

Link

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11191-023-00422-x.pdf

Reference76 articles.

1. Abelmann, X. (1965). Zum Verhältnis von Beobachtung und Experiment [On the relationship between observation and experiment]. Rostocker Philosophische Manuskripte, 2, 179–186.

2. Auger, P., Ehrenfest, P., Maze, R., Daudin, J., & Fréon, R. A. (1939). Extensive Cosmic-Ray Showers. Review of Modern Physics, 11(3–4), 288–291. https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.11.288

3. Boudreaux, A., Shaffer, P. S., Heron, P. R. L., & McDermott, L. C. (2008). Student understanding of control of variables: Deciding whether or not a variable influences the behavior of a system. American Journal of Physics, 76(2), 163–170. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2805235

4. Brown, R. A., & Kumar, A. (2013). The scientific method: Reality or myth? Journal of College Science Teaching, 42(4), 10–11.

5. Burian, R. M. (1997). Exploratory experimentation and the role of histochemical techniques in the work of Jean Brachet, 1938–1952. History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, 19(1), 27–45. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23332033