Abstract
The current work is an exploratory study on the ideas thatstudents in their fourth semester of engineering have about ``conservation''. Wereview the Piagetian position on the importance of conservations in logical operational structures inchild development and we comment upon other current trends in cognitive psychology. We discussbriefly the development of conservations in science during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and we pointout the contrast between this and how most textbooks introduce this subject. We have also carried out afirst, tentative analysis of the answers given by a sample of these students to a brief questionnaire about``conservation'' and ``non-conservation''.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alonso, M. & Finn, E.: 1995, 'An Integrated Approach to Thermodynamics in the Introductory Physics Course' The Physics Teacher 33, 296-310.
Alonso, M. & Finn, E.: 1992, Physics, Addison-Wesley Publising Company, MA.
Bernal, J.: 1990, Science in History, Editorial Nueva Imagen, México DF.
Bunge, M.: 1979, Causality and Modern Science, Dover Publications, N.Y.
Bunge, M.: 1985, La Investigación Científica, Ariel, Barcelona.
Descartes, R.: 1644/1984, Principles of Philosophy, V.R. & R.P. Miller (trans.), Reidel, Dordrecht.
Drago, A.: 1994, 'Mach's Thesis: Thermodynamics as the Basis Theory for Physics Teaching' Science & Education 3, 189-198.
Dibar Ure, C. & Colinvaux, D.: 1989, 'Developing Adult's Views on the Phenomenon of Change of Physical State in Water'. International Journal of Science Education 11(2), 153-160.
Feynman, R., Leighton, R. & Sands, M.: 1971, The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol. I, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA.
Gomez, M.A., Pozo, J. & Sanz, A.: 1995, 'Students' Ideas on Conservation of Matter: Effects of Expertise and Context Variables' Science Education 79(1), 77-93
Goswami, U.: 1998, Cognition in Children, Taylor and Francis, U.K.
Hirschfeld, L. & Gelman, S.: 1994, Mapping the Mind–Domain Specificity in Cognition and Culture, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Holton, G.: 1952, Introduction to Concepts and Theories in Physical Science, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, MA.
Kuhn, T.: 1977, The Essential Tension, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Morin, E.: 1977, La Méthode. I–La Nature de la Nature, Colección Teorema, Cátedra, Madrid.
Piaget, J. & García, R.: 1973, L'Explication dans les Sciencies, Flammarion Editeur, Paris.
Piaget, J., Ullmo, J., De Broglie, L. & Costa de Beauregard, O.: 1979, Logique et connaissance scientifique, Gallimard, Paris.
Piaget, J. & García, R.: 1992, Psicogénesis e Historia de la Ciencia, Siglo veintiuno editores, México, D.F. Primera edición 1982.
Prigogine, I. & Stengers, I.: 1984, Order Out of Chaos. Man's Dialogue with Nature, Bantam Books. Toronto–New York.
Riviere, A. & Nuñez. M.: 1996, La Mirada Mental, Desarrollo de las Capacidades Cognitivas Interpersonales, Aique, Buenos Aires.
Roederer, J.: 1979, Mecánica Elemental, Eudeba, Buenos Aires.
Santilli, H. & Aveleyra, E.: 1997, 'Análisis de un Texto Universitario Orientado hacia la Renovación Curricular en Física' Memorias de la Décima Reunión Nacional de Educación en Física 2, 205.
Stinner, A.: 1989, 'The Teaching of Physics and the Contexts of Inquiry: From Aristotle to Einstein' Science Education 73(5), 591-605.
Tarsitani, C. & Vicentini, M.: 1996, 'Scientific Mental Representation of Thermodynamics' Science & Education 5, 31-68.
Tipler, P.: 1976, Physics, Worth Publishers, New York.
Toulmin, S.: 1972, Human Understanding–Volume I: The Collective Use and Evolution of Concepts, Princeton University Press, N.J.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Speltini, C., Dibar Ure, M.C. Conservation in Physics Teaching, History of Science and in Child Development. Science & Education 11, 475–486 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016547607032
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016547607032