Structure and change of interest in physics among 6th to 10th grade students

The results of a nationwide study about the development of interest in the contents of the subject physics in school are discussed, More than 6000 stu dents were questioned about their interest in physics and other variables r elated to learning and achievement in a combined cross sectional and longit udinal study. An analysis method (the mixed Rasch model) was used which mak es it possible to take the qualitative differences among students with rega rd to the interest structure and the quantitative differences in the degree of interest into consideration at the same time. This first resulted in ar ea specific types of interest which, however, proved to be relatively stabl e for the areas of contents in physics. Interest structure and interest int ensity were analyzed and interpreted with regard to their association with gender and age. It is shown that the development of interest in physics is primarily characterized by a change in the interest structure. A slight dec line in the intensity of interest is secondary. This is especially true for the girls.