ERIC Number: ED273501
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1985
Pages: 27
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Role of Cognitive Factors in Chemistry Achievement.
Chandran, Sarath; And Others
Evidence from the research literature suggests that a variety of cognitive factors are responsible for chemistry achievement. This investigation examined the role that four cognitive factors, namely, prior knowledge, formal reasoning ability, memory capacity and field independence/dependence, play on achievement in chemistry as measured by tests of laboratory application, chemical calculations, and content knowledge. The sample was comprised of grade 11 students from 11 high schools who were following the same chemistry syllabus. Correlational analysis, multiple regression analysis and path analysis were performed on the data and all produced similar results. Prior knowledge and formal reasoning ability were each statistically significantly related to variation in chemistry achievement. Field dependence/independence and memory capacity played no significant role in chemistry achievement. The educational implications of these results were discussed. (Author/TW)
Descriptors: Abstract Reasoning, Academic Achievement, Achievement Tests, Chemistry, Cognitive Ability, Cognitive Measurement, Cognitive Processes, Concept Formation, Field Dependence Independence, Foreign Countries, High Schools, Memory, Prior Learning, Science Achievement, Science Tests, Secondary Education, Secondary School Science
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Western Australian Inst. of Tech., Perth.
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A