The Analysis Of Scientific Inquiry Questions

Scientific inquiry is an essential approach to promoting scientific literacy and a crucial aspect of the ongoing reform of science education.The new curriculum reform in China emphasizes the cultivation of students’ scientific inquiry ability.The evaluation of scientific inquiry ability via paper tests in high school entrance examinations is currently widespread,with inquiry questions serving as a pivotal means of assessing students’ aptitude.The analysis of inquiry questions has profound implications for teachers’ scientific inquiry instruction,students’ preparation,and the further development and dissemination of inquiry assessments.The research process adopted in this study includes a comprehensive analysis of the components of scientific inquiry ability,formulation of criteria for screening inquiry questions,development of an analytical framework and tool for the analysis of inquiry questions.Subsequently,using content analysis method,the high school entrance examination of Hangzhou from 2013 to 2022 was selected as the research subject for examining the characteristics and trends in the various dimensions of inquiry questions.The results of the analysis indicate that the inquiry questions are predominantly found in experimental questions that incorporate images and text,with an emphasis on comprehensive information analysis and processing skills.The content mainly pertains to the core concepts of chemistry and physics,and includes some comprehensive questions that are in line with the knowledge system of curriculum standards and textbooks.Inquiry questions encompass fewer than half of the required inquiry practice activities specified in the curriculum standards.Materials are primarily derived from textbooks and supplemented by experiments and daily life,with some content drawn from the history of science,but relatively little from contemporary science and technology.With regard to ability and literacy assessment,the distribution of various elements is uneven,with a focus on design experiments and planning capabilities,interpretation and conclusion capabilities,experimental methods,reasoning methods,reasoning and argumentation thinking,while model construction and innovative thinking are given comparatively less emphasis.Overall,the proposition of inquiry questions meets the requirements of the reform of high school entrance examination and the "double reduction" policy.Drawing on the findings,this study puts forth practical recommendations from three vantage points: the formulation of inquiry questions,the instruction of scientific inquiry and the readiness of students,and explores the prospective avenues for subsequent research.