NOTE: This is a large file, 165.8 mb in size! This article describes a study in which students' conceptual understanding about the Earth was examined. In the study, students enrolled in introductory science courses at four institutions, completed open-ended questionnaires, and participated in interviews. The institutions consisted of a small private university, two large state schools, and one small public liberal arts college. Students were probed on a variety of topics related to the Earth's crust and interior, and to geologic time. Analysis of questionnaire and interview responses indicates that students hold a number of non-scientific ideas about the Earth. Additionally, students apply a range of ontological categories to geologic phenomena, with significant implications for teaching geosciences from a systems perspective.

Summary

Subject keyword(s)	Astronomy, Beliefs and attitudes, Data analysis, Data collection, Data reporting, Earth science, Education, Education (General), Educational theory and practice, Geologic time, Geology, Geoscience, Physical sciences, Science, Space Science, Space sciences
Grade level	Higher Education, Vocational/Professional Development Education
Intended audience	Administrator, Educator
Resource type	Reference Material, Text
Resource format	text, text/html
Rights	We encourage the reuse and dissemination of the material on this site for educational, noncommercial purposes as long as attribution is retained.

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