Determining Students’ Conceptual Understandings of Physics Concepts

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine the students’ conceptual understanding and misconceptions about the concepts in the 8th grade Matter and Properties unit. Students (n = 180) of two high schools in Istanbul Province participated in the study. The qualitative research method was used to determine students’ conceptual understanding. A paper-and-pencil questionnaire consisting of six questions was applied as a data collection tool. Student responses to the questionnaires were subcategories by content analysis, and the percentages of the responses were determined. As a result of the findings obtained from the study, it was seen that 8th-grade students had some conceptual deficiencies and misconceptions about pressure and buoyancy.