Children's ideas about micro-organisms : a cross-age study

Abstract

This research explored children’s ideas about micro-organisms across three age groups and employed a survey methodology using multiple methods.  The research focussed on exploring children’s ideas across specific conceptual themes pertinent to understanding about micro-organisms.

Data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively and a hierarchy of mental models for each conceptual theme, typical of children’s ideas across all the age groups, was developed as a result of data analysis.  What this research has established is that the prevalence of the different models for each conceptual theme alters between different age groups.  A typology of these models for each age group has been developed and this has shown how children’s ideas change with age, what levels of progression occur and in which particular conceptual themes progression is greatest.

Two important themes emerged from the data; these were anthropocentric ideas and an associated notion that micro-organisms are essentially malevolent.  These themes were evident in children’s ideas across all age groups and throughout the conceptual catalogue being investigated.   A negative view of micro-organisms dominates many children’s thinking in such diverse concepts such as classification, living, disease and decay.

Implications for learning and teaching microbiology at school, for the age groups studied, are discussed and implications for curriculum development are considered.

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