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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2005  > October  >
Research: Science and Education
Chemical Education Research
Contemporary Moral Problems in Chemistry: Effect of Peer Presentations on Students' Awareness of Science and Society Issues
Harold B. White III, Steven D. Brown, and Murray V. Johnston
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716

Cover
October 2005
Vol. 82 No. 10
p. 1570

Abstract
Each year over a six-year span, chemistry and biochemistry majors in a chemistry senior seminar completed a survey at the beginning and again at the end of the course on which they responded (agreed, disagreed, were undecided, or didn't care) to a variety of science and society propositions. Groups of 2–4 students were formed based on the students' initial interest in particular propositions. Each group evaluated one proposition, advocated a position on it, and presented it to peers as a Web site and a 15-minute seminar followed by questions and answers. Analysis of 350 pre– and post–response data sets involving a total of 78 different propositions showed that students initially had limited awareness and poor understanding of many societal issues relating to chemistry. Their positions often changed significantly by the end of the course (p ≤ 0.05) for propositions presented by peers, yet students rarely changed positions in response to propositions presented only via a Web site, with no oral presentation. Oral presentations appeared to have a greater influence on students' thinking than material presented only on a Web site.
Supplement
A synopsis of the 78 propositions used in the course and statistical analyses of the students' pre- and post-responses to every proposition by section and year are available.
*  Contents Folder JCE2005p1570W containing Sup_2003-0844_index.doc (Microsoft Word), Sup_2003-0844.xls (Microsoft Excel), Sup_2003-0844_index.pdf, and 78 additional files.
*  Download
JCE2005p1570W.zip



More Information
*  Citation
White, Harold B., III; Brown, Steven D.; Johnston, Murray V. J. Chem. Educ. 2005 82 1570.
*  Keywords
Chemical Education Research; Ethics; Problem Solving / Decision Making; Public Understanding / Outreach; Upper-Division Undergraduate
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
August 30, 2005
September 8, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2005  > October  > Page 1570



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