IDENTIFIERS ERIC Digests

Some science educators who are interested in conceptual development have considered the phenomenon of student misconceptions and alternative frameworks. Researchers have used a variety of terms to describe the situation in which students ' ideas differ from those of a scientist about a particular concept. This digest was produced to briefly describe what this area of research encompasses, including a delineation of the terminology being used, ranging from misconceptions, to preconceptions, naive theories, alternative conceptions, and alternative frameworks. The document highlights some of the findings from a few relevant studies involving secondary school students. In addition, it attempts to communicate some of the implications of misconceptions research for teaching secondary school science. (TW) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document