Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the level of concept attainment by fifth, eighth, and eleventh grade students of three selected biological concepts. This research considered the following research questions: 1. At what level is there a significant difference in student attaining each concept across three grade levels based on background and environment? 2. Is there a significant interaction of grade level by treatment in regard to changed scores on each of the three concepts? 3. What is the percent of concept level attainment at each grade level for each of three concepts? Procedure. The study included three phases: (Phase 1) selection of the concepts; (Phase 2) development of the teaching materials, and validation of the instrument used for concept attainment evaluation; and (Phase 3) the treatment and determination of concept attainment in grades five, eight, and eleven. A minimum of 101 students (fifth grade N=38, eighth grade N=35, and eleventh grade N=28) were included in the study for each of three biology concepts. Each grade was divided into control group and experimental group. A pretest was given to the students early in the school year. After a period of approximately three weeks, the students in each grade level were taught three lessons. The control group received instruction on an unrelated topic and the experimental group received the prerequisites for mastery of each of the particular concepts. Both groups were posttested at the end of each period. The three concepts were: Concept A. Living things are interdependent with each other and with their environment. Concept B. By and large, living things are composed of fundamental units of structure and function known as cells. Concept C. No one major ecological factor determines the environment; soil, water, air, plants, energy, and animals (including man) all contribute..
Carroll, James Thomas (1976). The level of concept attainment of three biology concepts in the fifth, eighth, and eleventh grades. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -473075.