If scientific reasoning is what the tests test, then what is scientific reasoning? A review

• In Event: 63.085 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: 63.085-1 - Fostering, Assessing, Mapping, and Enhancing Scientific Reasoning

Abstract

Scientific reasoning has been recognized as an important academic outcome. However, little is known about the quality of its assessment. We present a review of 24 scientific reasoning skills assessments. We found that (a) there has been a recent peak in the development of assessments; (b) most tests are either based on one of three theory clusters or on educational guidelines; (c) test authors differ in their assumption about the domain generality of skills but these assumptions are hardly tested at all; and (d) the psychometric properties of most tests are not evaluated sufficiently. The review points out aspects that need to be improved, e. g. tests of assumptions and a higher variety of validity measures.

Authors

• Ansgar Opitz, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

• Moritz Heene, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

• Frank Fischer, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich