View in EDS

Effect of Virtual Experiments Compared to Physical Experiments on Students' Conceptual Understanding of Chemical Kinetics Concepts

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Effect of Virtual Experiments Compared to Physical Experiments on Students' Conceptual Understanding of Chemical Kinetics Concepts
Language: English
Authors: Tadesse Hunegnaw, Tesfaye Demisse Hailegebreal, Dawit Asrat Getahun, Minaleshewa Atlabachew
Source: European Journal of STEM Education. 2025 10(1).
Availability: Lectito Journals. Wassenaarseweb 20, 2596 CH, The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: 31-70-2190600; e-mail: info@lectitojournals.com; Web site: http://www.lectitopublishing.nl
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Science Experiments, Concept Formation, Scientific Concepts, Chemistry, Kinetics, Science Education, Technology Uses in Education, Computer Simulation, Teaching Methods, Conventional Instruction, High School Students, Foreign Countries, Science Laboratories
Geographic Terms: Ethiopia
ISSN: 2468-1954
2468-4368
Abstract: Even though physical experiments are mandatory in science education, there has been an increasing demand for virtual experiments. This research aimed to investigate the impact of virtual experiments compared to physical experiments on students' conceptual understanding of chemical kinetics concepts. To achieve this, a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed method approach was employed to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data. One group of students conducted virtual experiments (n = 25), while another group of students practiced the same topic with physical experiments (n = 26). The students' concept maps were used as an assessment tool before and after the intervention. Concept maps are considered a more effective assessment tool compared to traditional tests as they better evaluate students' conceptual understanding. The independent sample t-test analysis indicates no significant difference between the two groups in the post-concept maps, which suggests that the two experiments are similar in enhancing conceptual understanding. The qualitative analyses of concept maps indicate students preferred using the macroscopic levels to represent their conceptual knowledge of chemical kinetics. Future research may focus on an effective combination of virtual and physical experiments to link sub-microscopic levels to the other two levels (macroscopic and symbolic) of conceptual understanding.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1475594
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1475594
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1475594
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Effect of Virtual Experiments Compared to Physical Experiments on Students' Conceptual Understanding of Chemical Kinetics Concepts
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tadesse+Hunegnaw%22">Tadesse Hunegnaw</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tesfaye+Demisse+Hailegebreal%22">Tesfaye Demisse Hailegebreal</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dawit+Asrat+Getahun%22">Dawit Asrat Getahun</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Minaleshewa+Atlabachew%22">Minaleshewa Atlabachew</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22European+Journal+of+STEM+Education%22"><i>European Journal of STEM Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 10(1).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Lectito Journals. Wassenaarseweb 20, 2596 CH, The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: 31-70-2190600; e-mail: info@lectitojournals.com; Web site: http://www.lectitopublishing.nl
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 15
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Experiments%22">Science Experiments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Concept+Formation%22">Concept Formation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+Concepts%22">Scientific Concepts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chemistry%22">Chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kinetics%22">Kinetics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Education%22">Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Simulation%22">Computer Simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Methods%22">Teaching Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conventional+Instruction%22">Conventional Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Laboratories%22">Science Laboratories</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethiopia%22">Ethiopia</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2468-1954<br />2468-4368
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Even though physical experiments are mandatory in science education, there has been an increasing demand for virtual experiments. This research aimed to investigate the impact of virtual experiments compared to physical experiments on students' conceptual understanding of chemical kinetics concepts. To achieve this, a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed method approach was employed to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data. One group of students conducted virtual experiments (n = 25), while another group of students practiced the same topic with physical experiments (n = 26). The students' concept maps were used as an assessment tool before and after the intervention. Concept maps are considered a more effective assessment tool compared to traditional tests as they better evaluate students' conceptual understanding. The independent sample t-test analysis indicates no significant difference between the two groups in the post-concept maps, which suggests that the two experiments are similar in enhancing conceptual understanding. The qualitative analyses of concept maps indicate students preferred using the macroscopic levels to represent their conceptual knowledge of chemical kinetics. Future research may focus on an effective combination of virtual and physical experiments to link sub-microscopic levels to the other two levels (macroscopic and symbolic) of conceptual understanding.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1475594
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1475594
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Science Experiments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Concept Formation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific Concepts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kinetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Conventional Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Laboratories
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethiopia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Effect of Virtual Experiments Compared to Physical Experiments on Students' Conceptual Understanding of Chemical Kinetics Concepts
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tadesse Hunegnaw
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tesfaye Demisse Hailegebreal
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dawit Asrat Getahun
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Minaleshewa Atlabachew
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2468-1954
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2468-4368
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 10
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: European Journal of STEM Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1