Poster #26 - The Roles of Attitudes, Emotions, and Refutation Texts in Conceptual Change

• In Event: 75.043 - MTCC Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: 75.043-5 - Epistemic and Generative Interventions Promoting Learning Outcomes

Abstract

We investigated the roles of attitudes, emotions, and refutation texts in conceptual change. Sixty-four university students participated in an activity involving reading texts that were designed to change their misconceptions about vaccines, a complex and controversial socio-scientific topic. Participants’ prior knowledge, attitudes, emotions, and post-test knowledge were assessed using self-report measures. Results revealed that participants’ emotions significantly mediated between prior attitudes and post-test conceptual change. Results also revealed that participants who read a refutation text conceptually change more (mis)conceptions at post-test compared to participants who read an expository text. Findings have important practical and theoretical implications for conceptual change research as well as instructional practice and design.

Authors

• James A. Vivian, McGill University

• Krista R. Muis, McGill University