HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ' MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SIMPLE ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine 9th grade students ' misconceptions about simple electric circuits and to explore the relationship between these misconceptions and some selected variables (students' gender and experience about electric circuits). Review of literatureconceming simple electric circuits has shown that high school studentshave many misconceptions about this topic and in order to assess them, a diagnostic test was develaped. The test, which was named as Simple Electric Circuits Concept Test, is formed of 13 practical and 8 theoretical questions. Mareaver, a questionnaire was also given to students to determine their experience about simple electrk circuits. The study took place during 2000-2001 fall semester with the participationof 76 high school students. Results of analysis showed that high schoo