Learning environment, attitudes and achievement among middle-school science students using Inquiry-based laboratory activities

Research in Science Education

Volumn 38, Issue 3, 2008, Pages 321-341

  Wolf, Stephen J ^a   Fraser, Barry J ^a  

^a CURTIN UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

Author keywords

Achievement; Attitudes; Inquiry; Laboratory teaching; Learning environment; Middle schooling

Indexed keywords

EID: 42349088142     PISSN: 0157244X     EISSN: 15731898     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s11165-007-9052-y     Document Type: Article

References (98)

1. Abell, S. (1999). What's inquiry? Stories from the field. Australian Science Teachers Journal, 45, 33-41.
2. Aldridge, J. M., & Fraser, B. J. (2000). A cross-cultural study of classroom learning environments in Australia and Taiwan. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 3, 101-134.
3. Aldridge, J. M., Fraser, B. J., & Huang, I. T. C. (1999). Investigating classroom environments in Taiwan and Australia with multiple research methods. Journal of Educational Research, 93, 48-57.
4. Aldridge, J. M., Fraser, B. J., Taylor, P. C., & Chen, C. C. (2000). Constructivist learning environments in a cross-national study in Taiwan and Australia. International Journal of Science Education, 22, 37-55.
5. Alesandrini, K., & Larson, L. (2002). Teachers bridge to constructivism. Clearing House, 75, 118-121.
6. Alexakos, K., & Antoine, W. (2003). The gender gap in science education. Science Teacher, 70, 30-33.
7. Bacharach, V. R., Baumeister, A. A., & Furr, R. M. (2003). Racial and gender science achievement gaps in secondary education. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 164, 115-126.
8. Baker, W. P., & Leyva, K. (2003). What variables affect solubility? Science Activities, 40, 23-26.
9. Beisser, S., & Gillespie, C. (2003). Kindergarteners can do it? So can you: A case study of a constructivist technology-rich first year seminar for undergraduate college students. Information Technology in Childhood Education Annual, 1, 243-260.
10. Bennett, R. M., Sanford, A. L., McGivern, D. O. N., Cohen, S. B., Dawson, J. C., Bottar, A. S., et al. (2005). New York State grade 8 intermediate-level science test: Manual for administrators and teachers. Retrieved August 12, 2005, from http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/sciei/ gr8ilssam05.pdf.
11. Brewer, J., & Daane, C. J. (2002). Translating constructivist theory into practice in primary-grade mathematics. Education, 123, 416-421.
12. Carr, M. (1996). Interviews about instances and interviews about events. In D. F. Treagust, R. Duit, & B. J. Fraser (Eds.), Improving teaching and learning in science and mathematics (pp. 44-53). New York: Teachers College Press.
13. Colburn, A. (1998). Constructivism and science teaching. Phi Delta Kappa Fastbacks, 435, 7-44.
14. Dalton, B., & Morocco, C. C. (1997). Supported inquiry science: Teaching for conceptual change in urban and suburban science classrooms. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 30, 670-685.
15. Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (1994). The handbook of qualitative research in education. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
16. Dorman, J. (2003). Cross-national validation of the 'What Is Happening In This Class?' (WIHIC) questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 6, 231-245.
17. Dorman, J., Adams, J. E., & Ferguson, J. M. (2003). A cross-national investigation of students' perceptions of mathematics classroom environment and academic efficacy in secondary schools. Retrieved August 18, 2005, from http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/journal/dormanj.pdf (April 15).
18. Dorman, J. P., Fraser, B. J., & McRobbie, C. J. (1997). Relationship between school-level and classroom-level environments in secondary schools. Journal of Educational Administration, 35, 74-91.
19. Dryden, M., & Fraser, B. J. (1996, April). Use of classroom environment instruments in monitoring urban systemic reform. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, St. Louis, MO.
20. Duit, R., & Confrey, J. (1996). Reorganizing the curriculum and teaching to improve learning in science and mathematics. In D. F. Treagust, R. Duit, & B. J. Fraser (Eds.), Improving teaching and learning in science and mathematics (pp. 79-93). New York: Teachers College Press.
21. Erdogan, I. (2005). Controlled volcanism in the classroom: A simulation. Science Activities, 42, 21-24.
22. Erickson, F. (1998). Qualitative research methods for science education. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), International handbook of science education (pp. 1155-1173). Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer.
23. Farenga, S. J., & Joyce, B. A. (1997a). Beyond the classroom: Gender differences in science experiences. Education, 117, 563-568.
24. Farenga, S. J., & Joyce, B. A. (1997b). What children bring to the classroom: Learning science from experience. School Science and Mathematics, 97, 248-252.
25. Fraser, B. J. (1980). Development and validation of a test of enquiry skills. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 17, 7-16.
26. Fraser, B. J. (1981). Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA). Melbourne, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Research.
27. Fraser, B. J. (1990). Individualised Classroom Environment Questionnaire. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
28. Fraser, B. J. (1998a). Classroom environment instruments: Development, validity and applications. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 1, 7-33.
29. Fraser, B. J. (1998b). Science learning environments: Assessment, effects, and determinants. In B. J. Fraser, & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), International handbook of science education (pp. 527-564). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.
30. Fraser, B. J., & Chionh, Y. H. (2000, April). Classroom environment, self esteem, achievement, and attitudes in geography and mathematics in Singapore. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
31. Fraser, B. J., & Fisher, D. L. (1982). Predicting student outcomes from their perceptions of classroom psychosocial environment. American Educational Research Journal, 19, 498-518.
32. Fraser, B. J., Fisher, D. L., & McRobbie, C. J. (1996, April). Development, validation, and use of personal and class forms of a new classroom environment instrument. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York.
33. Fraser, B. J., Giddings, G. J., & McRobbie, C. J. (1995). Evolution and validation of a personal form of an instrument for assessing science laboratory classroom environments. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32, 399-422.
34. Fraser, B. J., & Rentoul, A. J. (1982). Relationship between school-level and classroom-level environment. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 28, 212-225.
35. Fraser, B. J., & Walberg, H. J. (2005). Research on teacher-student relationships and learning environments: Context, retrospect and prospect. International Journal of Educational Research, 43, 103-109.
36. Fraser, B. J., Walberg, H. J., Welch, W. W., & Hattie, J. A. (1987a). Syntheses of educational productivity research. International Journal of Educational Research, 11, 145-252.
37. Fraser, B. J., Welch, W. W., & Walberg, H. J. (1986). Using secondary analysis of national assessment data to identify predictors of junior high school students' outcomes. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 32, 37-50.
38. Fraser, B. J., Williamson, J. C., & Tobin, K. G. (1987b). Use of classroom and school climate scales in evaluating alternative high schools. Teaching and Teacher Education, 3, 219-231.
39. Goh, S. C., & Fraser, B. J. (1998). Teacher interpersonal behaviour, classroom environment and student outcomes in primary mathematics in Singapore. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 1, 199-229.
40. Goh, S. C., & Khine, M. S. (Eds.). (2002). Studies in educational learning environments: An international perspective. Singapore: World Scientific.
41. Goh, S. C., Young, D. J., & Fraser, B. J. (1995). Psychosocial climate and student outcomes in elementary mathematics classrooms: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Experimental Education, 64, 29-40.
42. Haertel, G. D., Walberg, H. J., & Haertel, E. H. (1981). Socio-psychological environments and learning: A quantitative synthesis. British Educational Research Journal, 7, 27-36.
43. Hayden, C. T., O'Neill, D., Meyer, J. E., Carballada, R. C., Sanford, A. L., Cohen, S. B., et al. (2004). Intermediate level science: Core curriculum grades 5-8. Retrieved June 13, 2005, from http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/pub/intersci.pdf.
44. Henderson, D., Fisher, D. L., & Fraser, B. J. (2000). Interpersonal behavior, learning environments and student outcomes in senior biology classes. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37, 26-43.
45. Hess, A. J., & Trexler, C. J. (2005). Constructivist teaching: Developing constructivist approaches to the agricultural education class. Agricultural Education Magazine, 77, 12-13.
46. Joyce, B. A., & Farenga, S. J. (1999). Informal science experience, attitudes, future interest in science, and gender of high-ability students: An exploratory study. School Science and Mathematics, 99, 431-437.
47. Khine, M. S., & Fisher, D. L. (2001, December). Classroom environment and teachers' cultural background in secondary science classes in an Asian context. Paper presented at the International Educational Research Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Fremantle, Australia.
48. Khoo, H. S., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Using classroom psychosocial environment in the evaluation of adult computer application courses. Technology, Pedagogy and Education (in press).
49. Kim, H. B., Fisher, D. L., & Fraser, B. J. (1999). Assessment and investigation of constructivist science learning environments in Korea. Research in Science and Technological Education, 17, 239-249.
50. Kim, H. B., Fisher, D. L., & Fraser, B. J. (2000). Classroom environment and teacher interpersonal behaviour in secondary science classrooms in Korea. Evaluation and Research in Education, 14, 3-22.
51. Koul, R. B., & Fisher, D. L. (2005). Cultural background and students' perspectives of science classroom learning environment and teacher interpersonal behaviour in Jammu, India. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 8, 195-211.
52. Krajcik, J., Blumenfeld, P. C., Marx, R. W., Bass, K. B., & Fredericks, J. (1998). Inquiry in project-based science classrooms: Initial attempts by middle school students. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 7, 313-350.
53. Lawrenz, F. P. (1976). Student perception of the classroom learning environment in biology, chemistry and physics courses. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 13, 351-353.
54. Lee, S. E. (2003). Achieving gender equity in middle school science classrooms. Science Scope, 26, 42-43.
55. Lewin, K. (1936). Principles of topological psychology. New York: McGraw.
56. Lightburn, M., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Classroom environment and student outcomes among students using anthropometry activities in high school science. Research in Science and Technological Education, 25, 153-166.
57. Maor, D., & Fraser, B. J. (1986). Use of classroom environment perceptions in evaluating inquiry-based computer assisted learning. International Journal of Science Education, 18, 401-421.
58. Margianti, E. S., Fraser, B. J., & Aldridge, J. M. (2004). Learning environment perceptions attitudes and achievement among private university students in Indonesia. International Journal of Private Higher Education, http://www.xaiu.com/xiaujournal.
59. Marjoribanks, K. (1991). Families, schools, and students educational outcomes. In B. J. Fraser & H. J. Walberg (Eds.), Educational environments: Evaluation, antecedents and consequences (pp. 75-91). London: Pergamon.
60. Martin-Dunlop, C., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Learning environment and attitudes associated with an innovative science course designed for prospective elementary teachers. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education (in press).
61. Mastropieri, M. A., Scruggs, T. E., & Boon, R. (2001). Correlates of inquiry learning in science: Constructing concepts of density and buoyancy. Remedial and Special Education, 22, 130-137.
62. McRobbie, C. J., & Fraser, B. J. (1993). Associations between student outcomes and psychosocial science environment. Journal of Educational Research, 87, 78-85.
63. McVarish, J., & Solloway, S. (2002). Self-evaluation: Creating a classroom without unhealthy competitiveness. Educational Forum, 66, 253-260.
64. Mintrop, H. (2001). Educating students to teach in a constructivist way - Can it all be done? Teachers College Record, 103, 207-239.
65. Moos, R. H. (1974). The Social Climate Scales: An overview. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
66. Moos, R. H. (1979). Evaluating educational environments: Procedures, measures, findings, and policy implications. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
67. Moos, R. H. (1991). Connections between school, work, and family settings. In B. J. Fraser & H. J. Walberg (Eds.), Educational environments: Evaluation, antecedents and consequences (pp. 29-53). London: Pergamon.
68. Moos, R. H., & Trickett, E. J. (1974). Classroom Environment Scale manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
69. Murray, H. A. (1938). Explorations in personality. New York: Oxford University Press.
70. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2000). The NAEP science scale. Retrieved June 29, 2005, from http://nces.ed.gov/ nationsreportcard/science/scale.asp.
71. National Research Council. (1996). National science education standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
72. NCLB. (2001). No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Retrieved September 11, 2005, from http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/science/science.html.
73. Nix, R. K., Fraser, B. J., & Ledbetter, C. E. (2005). Evaluating an integrated science learning environment using the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 8, 109-133.
74. Ogbuehi, P. I., & Fraser, B. J. (2007). Learning environment, attitudes and conceptual development associated with innovative strategies in middle-school mathematics. Learning Environments Research, 10, 101-114.
75. Quek, C. L., Wong, A. F. L., & Fraser, B. J. (2005). Teacher-student interaction and gifted students' attitudes toward chemistry in laboratory classrooms in Singapore. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 40(1), 18-28.
76. Raaflaub, C. A., & Fraser, B. J. (2002, April). Investigating the learning environment in Canadian mathematics and science classrooms in which laptop computers are used. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
77. Schlenker, R. M., & Schlenker, K. R. (2005). Response of fish to chemical signals in water: A constructivist approach. Science Activities, 29, 41-44.
78. Scott, R. H., & Fisher, D. L. (2004). Development, validation and application of a Malay translation of an elementary version of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI). Research in Science Education, 34, 173-194.
79. Sewell, A. (2002). Constructivism and student misconceptions: Why every teacher needs to know about them. Australian Science Teachers Journal, 48, 24-28.
80. Simpson, R. D., & Oliver, J. S. (1990). A summary of major influences on attitude toward and achievement in science among adolescent students. Science Education, 74, 1-18.
81. Spinner, H. O., & Fraser, B. J. (2001). Evaluation of an innovative mathematics program in terms of classroom environment, student attitudes, and conceptual development. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 3, 267-293.
82. Stern, G. G., Stein, M. I., & Bloom, B. S. (1956). Methods in personality assessment. Glencoe, IL: Free Press.
83. Talton, E. L., & Simpson, R. D. (1987). Relationships of attitude toward classroom environment with attitude toward and achievement in science among tenth grade biology students. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 24, 507-526.
84. Taylor, P. C., Fraser, B. J., & Fisher, D. L. (1997). Monitoring constructivist classroom learning environments. International Journal of Educational Research, 27, 293-302.
85. Teh, G., & Fraser, B. J. (1994). An evaluation of computer-assisted learning in terms of achievement, attitudes and classroom environment. Evaluation and Research in Education, 8, 147-161.
86. Telli, S., Rakici, N., & Cakiroglu, J. (2003). Learning environment and students' attitudes towards biology. Paper presented at the annual conference of the European Science Education Research Association, Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.
87. Thompson, B. (1998). Review of 'What if there were no significance tests?' Educational and Psychological Measurement, 58, 334-346.
88. Thompson, B. (2002). What future quantitative social science research could look like: Confidence intervals for effect sizes. Educational Researcher, 31, 24-31.
89. Tobin, K., & Fraser, B. J. (1998). Qualitative and quantitative landscapes of classroom learning environments. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), International handbook of science education (pp. 623-640). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
90. Walberg, H. J. (Ed.). (1979). Educational environments and effects: Evaluation, policy and productivity. Berkeley, CA: McCutchan.
91. Walberg, H. J., & Anderson, G. J. (1968). Classroom climate and individual learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 59, 414-419.
92. Walberg, H. J., Fraser, B. J., & Welch, W. W. (1986). A test of a model of educational productivity among senior high school students. Journal of Educational Research, 79, 133-139.
93. Windschitl, M. (2002). Framing constructivism in practice as the negotiation of dilemmas: An analysis of the conceptual, pedagogical, cultural, and political challenges facing teachers. Review of Educational Research, 72, 131-175.
94. Wong, A. F. L., & Fraser, B. J. (1996). Environment-attitude associations in the chemistry laboratory classroom. Research in Science and Technological Education, 14, 91-102.
95. Wubbels, T., & Brekelmans, M. (1998). The teacher factor in the social climate of the classroom. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), International handbook of science education (pp. 565-580). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.
96. Wubbels, T., & Levy, J. (Eds.). (1993). Do you know what you look like? Interpersonal relationships in education. London: Falmer Press.
97. Zandvliet, D. B., & Fraser, B. J. (2004). Learning environments in information and communication technology classrooms. Technology, Pedagogy, and Education, 13, 91-124.
98. Zandvliet, D. B., & Fraser, B. J. (2005). Physical and psychosocial environments associated with networked classrooms. Learning Environments Research: An International Journal, 8, 1-17.