What Factors Affect Lower Secondary Students in Finding Variables for Inquiry?

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted with junior high students to determine those factors that may affect whether they notice dependent and independent variables related to changes in natural phenomena. The following two findings were obtained: (1) The following seven factors were extracted that may affect "noticing of variables" related to natural phenomena: (a) an experience regarding familiar natural phenomena (b) a good impression towards mathematics (c) self-confidence in natural science (d) intellectual culriosity about nature, science and technology (e) experience with scientific investigation (f) a good impression towards natural science (g) experience creating things (2) The group of students who obtained high scores for "noticing of variables" related to natural phenomena showed a significantly higher average for all the above factors (a) through (g) than did those whe got lower scores. This finding suggests that "noticing of variables" is an anility that is nurtured by connecting these seven factors in a complicated way.