Scientific Sense-Making in a Small Group : Focused Overlap Discourses

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze how students make sense of science through small-group discussions. The focus was on the process of turn-taking observed during such discussions. While large-group discussions tend to be organized, small-group discussions tend to be disorganized, that is, characterized by overlapping discourse. However, the overlapping discourse helps the students make sense of science. Back-channel discourse, conflicting discourse, and cooperative discourse are three types of overlapping discourse that contribute to scientific sense-making. 1. Back-channel discourse encourages speakers to share and reinforce scientific understanding, thus allowing them to continue and promote discourse. 2. Conflicting discourse encourages speakers to understand different points of view, thus allowing them to reassess their understanding of science. 3. Cooperative discourse encourages speakers to integrate their thoughts, thus allowing them to synthesize their understanding of science.