Analysis of Cognition Levels related to Acid-Base Models in High School Science-Gifted Students

Abstract

In this study, the model cognition level of high school science-gifted students about the two types of acid-base models taught in secondary schools was analyzed. In order to find out the model cognition level of students, 12 items were developed based on the acid-base reaction and the dissociation reaction of acids and bases. The subjects of the study were 95 students of two science-gifted schools. As a result of the questionnaire analysis, model cognition levels were analyzed 6 levels in the context of consistency, inconsistency, and unexplainable scope of the two models. In the acid-base reaction item, the largest percentage of students cognized only understanding of the two models. In the acid-base dissociation reaction item, they understood the two models and perceived the ‘Known Ignorance’ that cognizes the limitations of one model. However, there was only one student who perceived the limitations of both models and all of the ‘Unknown Ignorance’ that the model could not explain. Through this, we argued that there is a need for educational efforts to raise the model cognition level of sciencegifted students.