A Study on Biology Cognitive Preferences of Junior High Students Author: Yeong-Jing Cheng, Tzay-Show Tsai, Bih-Ju Liaw(Department of Biology, National Taiwan Normal University), Chiou-Chwen Huang(Chung Ho senior high school)

Abstract：

In this study, the Test of Biology Cognitive Preference (TBCP) was developed and employed to assess the biology cognitive preference styles of the 7th grade students in Taipei area. The relations between biology cognitive preferences and school types and certain student's background characteristics were investigated. The results showed that the re-liability and validity of the TBCP were satisfactory. The internal consistency reliabilities of the R > P > Q > A modes were 0.86, 0.79, 0.90 and 0.67 respectively. Varimax factor analy-sis of the TBCP scores revealed two factors : Factor 1 represents "Critical questioning", while factor 2 represents "Knowledge application." Both the intercorrelation among the four cognitive preference modes and factor analysis supported the existence of two bipolar axes, namely Q-R and A-P.
The subjects exhibited a strong preference for the P(Principles) mode and a weak prefer-ence for the R(Recall) mode. The rank order of the extent of preference from highest to low-est was P > A > Q > R. This indicated that the 7th graders preferred identifying principles from the biological information presented to them, to memorizing biological facts.
There were significant differences in biology cognitive preferences between male and fe-male subjects, and among student groups of different school types. The males exhibited a preference order of P > A > R > Q, while the females exhibited a preference order of A > P > Q > R. Students of large schools exhibited a lower preference for the R mode than those of small and medium schools, and exhibited a higher preference for the Q mode than those of medium schools. Students of medium schools had a higher preference for P mode than those of small and large schools. Significant differences in biology cognitive preferences were also found among students grouped by parents' occupations. In addition, the I.Q. scores were positively correlated with Q mode and negatively correlated with R mode.

Keywords：Biology Cognitive Preferences, Cognitive Preference Styles, Curriculum Evaluation

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