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Analysis of Students' Diagrams of Water Molecules in Snowflakes to Reveal Their Conceptual Understanding of Hydrogen Bonds

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Title: Analysis of Students' Diagrams of Water Molecules in Snowflakes to Reveal Their Conceptual Understanding of Hydrogen Bonds
Language: English
Authors: Matovu, Henry (ORCID 0000-0003-0503-5416), Won, Mihye (ORCID 0000-0001-8771-7626), Treagust, David Franklin (ORCID 0000-0001-5340-0970), Mocerino, Mauro (ORCID 0000-0001-9514-7846), Ungu, Dewi Ayu Kencana (ORCID 0000-0002-1890-6017), Tsai, Chin-Chung (ORCID 0000-0001-7744-9971), Tasker, Roy (ORCID 0000-0001-9378-3865)
Source: Chemistry Education Research and Practice. Apr 2023 24(2):437-452.
Availability: Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Science Instruction, Molecular Structure, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, Visual Aids, Undergraduate Students, Water, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1039/d2rp00175f
ISSN: 1756-1108
Abstract: Recent studies have reported a growing trend of using student-generated diagrams for assessment in science teaching and research. However, many educators tend to use diagrams to explore students' perceptions of scientists and their work rather than explore conceptual understanding of abstract concepts. In this study, we used diagrams to investigate students' conceptual understanding of the nature of hydrogen bonds among water molecules in snowflakes. Participants were 70 first- and second-year university students. Following a sequence of interview prompts, the students drew diagrams to illustrate the interactions amongst water molecules in snowflakes. Sixty students' diagrams were analyzed inductively using a constant comparison method. Most diagrams showed that the students did not have major challenges drawing the water molecule structure, recognizing polarity of a water molecule, or recognizing the intermolecular nature of hydrogen bonds. However, the diagrams revealed varied ways in which students conceptualized the formation of hydrogen bonds. A third of the diagrams revealed students' alternative conceptions about the role of lone pairs of electrons in the formation of hydrogen bonds. Most diagrams which showed a good understanding of the nature of a hydrogen bond revealed students' difficulties in recognizing molecular interactions in a 3D space. Our findings suggest that student-generated diagrams can provide a powerful way to understand students' conceptions of abstract science concepts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1373872
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Analysis of Students' Diagrams of Water Molecules in Snowflakes to Reveal Their Conceptual Understanding of Hydrogen Bonds
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matovu%2C+Henry%22">Matovu, Henry</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0503-5416">0000-0003-0503-5416</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Won%2C+Mihye%22">Won, Mihye</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8771-7626">0000-0001-8771-7626</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Treagust%2C+David+Franklin%22">Treagust, David Franklin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5340-0970">0000-0001-5340-0970</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mocerino%2C+Mauro%22">Mocerino, Mauro</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9514-7846">0000-0001-9514-7846</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ungu%2C+Dewi+Ayu+Kencana%22">Ungu, Dewi Ayu Kencana</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1890-6017">0000-0002-1890-6017</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tsai%2C+Chin-Chung%22">Tsai, Chin-Chung</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7744-9971">0000-0001-7744-9971</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tasker%2C+Roy%22">Tasker, Roy</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9378-3865">0000-0001-9378-3865</externalLink>)
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  Data: Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
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  Data: 16
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  Data: 10.1039/d2rp00175f
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  Data: Recent studies have reported a growing trend of using student-generated diagrams for assessment in science teaching and research. However, many educators tend to use diagrams to explore students' perceptions of scientists and their work rather than explore conceptual understanding of abstract concepts. In this study, we used diagrams to investigate students' conceptual understanding of the nature of hydrogen bonds among water molecules in snowflakes. Participants were 70 first- and second-year university students. Following a sequence of interview prompts, the students drew diagrams to illustrate the interactions amongst water molecules in snowflakes. Sixty students' diagrams were analyzed inductively using a constant comparison method. Most diagrams showed that the students did not have major challenges drawing the water molecule structure, recognizing polarity of a water molecule, or recognizing the intermolecular nature of hydrogen bonds. However, the diagrams revealed varied ways in which students conceptualized the formation of hydrogen bonds. A third of the diagrams revealed students' alternative conceptions about the role of lone pairs of electrons in the formation of hydrogen bonds. Most diagrams which showed a good understanding of the nature of a hydrogen bond revealed students' difficulties in recognizing molecular interactions in a 3D space. Our findings suggest that student-generated diagrams can provide a powerful way to understand students' conceptions of abstract science concepts.
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  Data: 2023
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      – TitleFull: Analysis of Students' Diagrams of Water Molecules in Snowflakes to Reveal Their Conceptual Understanding of Hydrogen Bonds
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