抄録
This paper examines the motivation of research on childrens' conceptions. For the purpose of this study, the similarity of research on childrens' conceptions and educational anthropology is first pointed out and then, research trends of educational anthropology from the research on 1960s in the United States are examined. Through the investigation, the motive of research on childrens' conceptions is found in the social situation in 1960s and 1970s, such as the struggle to solve the problem of culturally deprived children. The research can be seen as one of these struggles. This paper describes not only the motive of the research but also hidden tendencies of western culture, through a brief description of humanity based on Christianity and on the concept of "civilization". This motivation might be evident for researchers in western country especially in the United States, but it is unknown to almost all science education researchers in Japan. The importance to recognize such a cultural base is pointed out.
