Understanding the Concept of Theory in University Master's Education

• In Event: Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Students' Understanding of Evidence and Research

Abstract

Some University students have problems with understanding the concept of theory. This study explored teacher education students’ conceptions of theory at the beginning and at the end of their five years master’s education. In this study, 119 students’ conceptions were analysed and a four-category model of conceptions was created. The main categories were named as Conceptions of the aim of theory, Conceptions of the origin of theory, Subjective conceptions of theory, and Misconceptions of theory. When comparing the student groups, first year student saw theory more often as an eternal truth, while more advanced students saw theory to as modelling phenomena and being related to research.

Authors

• Heidi Ponsiluoma, University of Turku

• Mari S. Murtonen, Centre for Learning Research

• Margaret Mary Kiley, The Australian National University