The Process of Natural Selection: Does Student Understanding Differ Between Rural and Urban Schools?

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorMoody, Sandra S. West
dc.contributor.authorBaker, Brent Arthur
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWesterlund, Julie F.
dc.date.accessioned2014-05-29T18:39:00Z
dc.date.available2014-05-29T18:39:00Z
dc.date.issued2014-05
dc.description.abstractThe process of natural selection is a pivotal component of modern biology. Because of its significance, this study was conducted to determine if student understanding of natural selection differs between rural and urban schools, potentially revealing a need to modify existing curriculum. Specifically, it was hypothesized that students attending rural schools would possess a significantly better understanding of natural selection than those students attending urban schools because of their more frequent and direct interaction with the natural world. To test this hypothesis, a middle school version of the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection was administered to a total of 168 students at two rural schools and two urban schools. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the mean score of those students attending rural schools and the mean score of those students attending urban schools. However, both groups scored lower than expected, revealing that it would likely prove beneficial to implement additional environmental-based lessons and activities at both rural and urban schools.
dc.description.departmentHonors College
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent29 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationBaker, B. A. (2014). The process of natural selection: Does student understanding differ between rural and urban schools? (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/5046
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectbiology
dc.subjectrural
dc.subjecturban
dc.subjectnatural selection
dc.subjectconcept inventory
dc.subjectHonors College
dc.titleThe Process of Natural Selection: Does Student Understanding Differ Between Rural and Urban Schools?
thesis.degree.departmentHonors College
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
txstate.documenttypeHonors Thesis

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
BakerBrentFinal.pdf
Size:
605.39 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.46 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Honors College Capstones