| Abstract: | The use of the method of constrained word associations to gain knowledge on the conception of the chemical equilibrium concept is reported. The analysis provides information on: - (a) A general indication of change in the cognitive structure of students associated with chemical comprehension.
- (b) The comparison of clusters of concepts at pre- and postinstruction indicating the associated concepts.
- (c) A graphical representation of the links among concepts which resulted from instruction.
The results obtained by this technique were similar to those obtained by the method of free sorting of a set of concepts. As the latter was found to correlate with problem-solving ability, it is argued that the method of constrained word associations is a reliable tool for mapping certain aspects of cognitive structure concerned with understanding. |
