First, I read Isaacson et al. (2016). This study used likert-scale surveys as the only form of data collection. The surveys were administered to the students before and after they complete a lab to see how the lab’s accessibility is related to students’ beliefs and motivations surrounding science. Huang (2021) also used a likert-scale survey to determine how inquiry-based science labs impacted students, with different experience levels, problem-solving and teamwork attitudes. Considering these researchers only used surveys, I think these studies fall into the cognitive theory category. I think if the researchers had, say in Huang, gone to the different labs and recorded what the students were saying and how they were working together through observation notes or video recording and then used this as the data to analyze to base their conclusions about problem-solving and attitudes off of then I think this would have made the studies more sociocultural. I don’t know, what do you all think?
I feel like that was a good segue to the DeLisi et al. (2021) article about science fairs and their support of students’ understanding of science and engineering practices. This study used pre and post science fair assessments as one form of data. If this was the only form of data, even though the theoretical framework seems very situated, I would have to say this is a cognitive study. However, the researchers also observed the science fairs and looked at how the teachers scaffolded the students’ development of questions and investigation, sense-making and reflection of each other’s work. The researchers also completed interviews. I think because there were other forms of data besides the assessment, especially the observations where the researchers could see the interactions of the students and teachers, makes this study fall into the situated category.
Hi Grace,
I would like to hear more on why you believe Delisi is a cognitive study. This is one part of this course that I am not quite understanding. It is clear to me that based on the main inquiry of certain studies and the theoretical angle the authors take can show where they stand how learning is done but it is not clear to me how the execution of a study can have these tones to it. To me the answers to an inquiry can really only be found in certain ways and the authors opinion on how learning is done should not affect this pursuit in an obvious way.