Exploring force concept understanding of students in Region V (Bicol)

• Main Author: Moya, Libertie Vita
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Force and energy—Study and teaching (Secondary)—Philippines—Bicol Peninsula; Physics —Study and teaching (Secondary)—Philippines—Bicol Peninsula; Science and Mathematics Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6774
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study was geared to explore the conceptual understanding of students on force. It tried to identify the common conception of the selected fourth year students in Bicol. These were the senior Engineering Science Education Project (ESEP) students of Tabaco Hational High School; Sorsogon National High School; and likewise the senior students of Philippine Science High School Bicol Campus. The research used a 25-item open-ended Force Concept Inventory adapted by the NTME-PHY DepEd NEAP scholars SY 2003-2004 from the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) developed by Hestenes, et al (1992). There were 150 respondents comprised of 57 males and 93 females. The responses given by the students in the open-ended questionnaire on force were used to gather, analyze and interpret data. Interviews to randomly selected students from the 150 student-respondents were made for clarification purposes. The following are some important findings of the study based from the results of the study. Though the study chose above average performing students the finding still revealed the true picture of how students think of force as a concept in Mechanics. Alternative conceptions on the concept as well as common sense ideas on force are still prevalent with these students even if they have been taught of Mechanics concept as early as their third year as a separate physics subject. Though there were five (5) students identified, as Newtonian thinkers as they were able to reach the entry threshold score of 15 and above while the rest are non-Newtonian thinkers. Their low scores, which are mostly within the mean of 10 clearly showed their common misconception, which are mostly Aristotelian and partly impetus. This line of thinking was also evident in their responses during the interview.