Synthesis Study on Argumentation in Science Education

Abstract

In current educational research, there is an increasing acceptance among researchers to emphasize that students must be educated on scientific ways of thinking. Simultaneously, science education practice has focused on the development of scientific thinking skills which are associated with scientific inquiry rather than memorization skills. When it comes to scientific practices, educational reforms highly emphasize scientific practices such as argumentation in science education. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a synthesis study on argumentation in science education. In order to achieve this purpose, this topic will be reviewed under seven main headings within the current study. These are development of argumentation theory, argumentation approaches, argumentation models used in science education, student’s role in argumentation, teacher’s role in argumentation, activities that create an argumentation environment, difficulties associated with the implementation of the argumentation in the learning environment and scientific argumentation respectively. In addition, some sub-headings will follow the main headings.