An Analysis of First Years Senior High School Students' Mental Models: A Case Study on the Concept of Uniform Motion

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Bibliographic Details
Title: An Analysis of First Years Senior High School Students' Mental Models: A Case Study on the Concept of Uniform Motion
Language: English
Authors: Mohd Zaidi Amiruddin (ORCID 0000-0001-9814-5782), Achmad Samsudin (ORCID 0000-0003-3564-6031), Andi Suhandi (ORCID 0000-0001-9912-7308), Bayram Costu (ORCID 0000-0003-1429-8031)
Source: Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn). 2025 19(1):249-256.
Availability: Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. C5 Plumbon, Banguntapan, Yogyakarta, 55198, Indonesia. e-mail: edulearn@uad.ac.id; Web site: http://edulearn.intelektual.org/index.php/EduLearn/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: High School Students, Physics, Scientific Concepts, Schemata (Cognition), Models, Science Education, Motion, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
ISSN: 2089-9823
2302-9277
Abstract: Difficulties in understanding physics concepts are often experienced by students such as in the material of regular uniform motion. This study aims to describe the mental models of first-year secondary school students on regular straight-line motion. This research utilized a case study method of 167 students at the secondary level with an average age of 16-17 years. The mental model test has been utilized form of essay questions The mental model test has been utilized form of essay questions with two sub-materials on the regular uniform motion. The data were analyzed referring to the descriptive mental model assessment rubric in the related literature. The rubric maps the level of student understanding which is then categorized into scientific, synthetic, and initial mental model categories. The results stated that students' mental models were dominated in the initial category with respective percentages for both sub-categories of 60 and 90%. In addition, there are still terms of understanding that cannot be distinguished by students so it becomes one of the causes of their unscientific mental models. Based on these results, it is suggested that for further research, alternative teaching materials are needed that can have an impact on improving students' mental models.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1457067
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Difficulties in understanding physics concepts are often experienced by students such as in the material of regular uniform motion. This study aims to describe the mental models of first-year secondary school students on regular straight-line motion. This research utilized a case study method of 167 students at the secondary level with an average age of 16-17 years. The mental model test has been utilized form of essay questions The mental model test has been utilized form of essay questions with two sub-materials on the regular uniform motion. The data were analyzed referring to the descriptive mental model assessment rubric in the related literature. The rubric maps the level of student understanding which is then categorized into scientific, synthetic, and initial mental model categories. The results stated that students' mental models were dominated in the initial category with respective percentages for both sub-categories of 60 and 90%. In addition, there are still terms of understanding that cannot be distinguished by students so it becomes one of the causes of their unscientific mental models. Based on these results, it is suggested that for further research, alternative teaching materials are needed that can have an impact on improving students' mental models.
ISSN:2089-9823
2302-9277