Journal of Research in Science Teaching
By Westbrook, Susan; Marek, Edmund
“A Cross-Age Study of Student Understanding of the Concept of Diffusion”
Publisher: Wiley online library
28/8
Pp. 694-660
1991
A Cross-Age Study of Student Understanding of the Concept of Diffusion
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Survey
Number of subjects, range: Large — 31 or more
Grade and age of subjects: 9th-12 grade — under 17-18 years
I. Misconceptions about the process occurred when the dye was dropped into the water
- Process represented osmosis
- Osmosis (moving water from a higher to a lower concentration will occur.
- The dark blue dye will first go to the bottom of the container, then diffuse through the water by osmosis and become one color
- Process represented dissolving
- The dye’s molecules will settle between the H20 molecules causing it to appear gone.
II. Misconceptions about the distribution of the dye in the water
- Dye drops to the bottom and then spreads out.
- Dye won’t stay mixed but eventually will go to the surface of the water or the bottom of the container.
- Dye mixed by water waves forms when the dye hits the surface.
III. Misconception about the dye’s color, form, or molecules’ nature during the diffusion process
- Dye changes color in the water.
- Dye disappears over time.
- Dye disappears over time.