The communication of laboratory investigations by university entrants

The purpose of the study reported here was to analyse the ways in which unv ersity entrant science students carry out and communicate experimental acti vities and to identify a model to explain characteristic communication prac tices. The study was prompted by a need to inform the development of an int roductory laboratory course. The students studied shared an educational bac kground characterised by a lack of experience with laboratory work and scie ntific writing. Seven groups of three students were studied. The investigat ive strategies of these groups were observed. Laboratory reports were used to identify the ways in which students communicated these strategies. Data are presented that show a discrepancy between the strategies used and those reported. The results suggest that: (i) students' perceptions of the purpo se of a laboratory task influence their decisions on what to report; (ii) u nderstandings of laboratory procedures greatly influence their decision on what to report and on how much detail to include in a report and; (iii) kno wledge of discourse rules contributes to effective reporting. It is conclud ed that students' communication of an investigation results from the differ ential operation of various perceptual filters that determine both the proc edural and discourse elements of their reports. It is recommended that the communication of science should be taught explicitly and alongside the proc edures and concepts of science. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.