Students' conceptions in teaching physics treated in Brazilian theses and dissertations (1972-2011)

Abstract

This project has two main objectives. First, to map the field of research on preconceptions or alternative conceptions in Brazilian Physics Teaching. This mapping will show a set of students' conceptions in middle and high school identified in theses and dissertations in the area, taking into account the results and processes, tools and theoretical references used in the research. Secondly, we will produce a catalog of the found conceptions, organized by Physics content area, and containing the main trends of misconceptions identified in the selected documents. This study will be supported by three main models of conceptual development found in the literature on science education: Conceptual Change, Conceptual Development and Conceptual Profile. The papers will be selected from the Catalogue of Theses and Dissertations (1972-2011) of CEDOC-FE-UNICAMP and will be described based on the following indicators: author, mentor, year of defense, institution, population, education level, identified concepts, observed tools and processes for concepts' identification, theoretical reference and conceptual development model. With this work, we hope to contribute to the professors training process, promote a wider knowledge about the research in Physics Teaching, and assist future research related to the field of preconceptions or alternative conceptions.