A survey on the conceptual understanding of students on heat and temperature

This study was conducted to probe the students conceptual understanding of heat and temperature as well as the common alternative conceptions among the fourth year students of Hingyon National High School-Annex. A modified 20item open-ended Thermal Concept Inventory (TCE) was used as an instrument in the study. Aside from their written answers, an unstructured interview was conducted to see if there is consistency of responses. The descriptive research method survey was employed in analyzing and interpreting data. Results showed that the students still hold on the idea of caloric theory. Based on the data gathered, the researcher arrived at the following prevalent misconceptions: heating increases the temperature of the boiling water (C6) heat and cold can be transferred and absorbed (C2) a change in phase results in a change in temperature (C3) bubbles contain air D8) heat goes up (C8) Plastics have no temperature (D6)