In this study, we investigated the influences of cognitive conflict and situational interest induced by a discrepant event and an alternative hypothesis, attention and state learning strategies on conceptual change. A preconception test was administered to 486 seventh graders. They also completed the questionnaires of cognitive response and situational interest to a discrepant event before/after presenting an alternative hypothesis. After learning the concept of density with a CAI program as conceptual change intervention, the tests of attention, state learning strategies, and conceptual understanding were administered as posttests. Analyses of the results for 197 students having misconceptions about density revealed that post-cognitive conflict was significantly higher than pre-cognitive conflict. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the test scores of pre-situational interest and post-situational interest. Pre-cognitive conflict only exerted a direct effect on post-cognitive conflict, while post-cognitive conflict exerted a direct effect and Journal of the Korean Chemical Society an indirect effect via attention on conceptual understanding. Both pre- and post-situational interests were found to influence on conceptual understanding via attention. Attention had influences positively on deep learning strategy and negatively on surface learning strategy. There was a relatively small effect of state learning strategies on conceptual understanding.

Alternative Hypothesis;Cognitive Conflict;Situational Interest;Attention;State Learning Strategy;Conceptual Change;

Korean