The interplay of prior knowledge, emotions and learning in a science experiment activity

Abstract

Future Primary teachers describe negative emotions toward science. According to psychological and neuroscientific theories about academic performance and emotion-cognition integration, these emotions could be linked to their past and future learning. To ascertain this, we analyse a sample of 419 Primary pre-service teachers for the associations among their anticipated emotions (before an experimental activity of microbiology), their prior knowledge and their subsequent learning after the activity. Results indicate that insufficient prior knowledge and a non-scientific itinerary during Upper Secondary Education (i. e., social sciences or arts itineraries) characterize students who anticipate more negative emotions. These emotions modulate subsequent learning with a bivalent effect: frustration (a depressant emotion) repress it, whereas nervousness (stimulating emotion) favours it.