Journal
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 57, Issue 1, Pages 1-19Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.cogpsych.2008.03.002
Keywords
folkbiology; knowledge enrichment; conceptual change; behavioral change; causal mechanism; infectious disease; germs; colds; biology; coherence
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Health education can offer a valuable window onto conceptual and behavioral change. In Study 1, we mapped out 3rd-grade Chinese children's beliefs about causes of colds and flu and ways they can be prevented. We also explored older adults' beliefs as a possible source of the children's ideas. In Study 2, we gave 3rd- and 4thgrade Chinese children either a conventional cold/flu education program or an experimental Think Biology program that focused on a biological causal mechanism for cold/flu transmission. The Think Biology program led children to reason about cold/flu causation and prevention more scientifically than the conventional program, and their reasoning abilities dovetailed with their mastery of the causal mechanism. Study 3, a modified replication of Study 2, found useful behavioral change as well as conceptual change among children who received the Think Biology program and documented coherence among knowledge enrichment, conceptual change, and behavioral change. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available