Review and Analysis of the Studies on Contexts in Science Education

과학교육에서의 상황 관련 연구에 대한 개관과 분석

The purpose of this study was to review the studies related to the problem of context in science education. Firstly, studies on context and context effects in science education (and also those related in cognitive psychology) were summarized according to the topics concerning science learning, such as deductive reasoning and probabilistic judgement, controlling variables, scientific inquiry skills, memory and consistency of misconceptions, selecting cognitive strategies and problem solving, achievement and momentum effect, and interest, religion and culture. Secondly, the common problems appeared from the analysis of the studies were discussed, such as (1) how to define contexts?, (2) how to classify contexts?, (3) how to characterize the effects of contexts? and (4) how to explain the context effects? Finally, the implications of the analysis of the studies on the problem of context were discussed in terms of recent development of science education, such as misconception studies, STS science education and the application of the history of science to science teaching.