The effect of implementation of science writing heuristic on students' achievement and attitudes toward laboratory in introductory physics laboratory

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of implementing the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach in the introductory physics laboratory and to learn students' views about the SWH. Such implementation and investigation was conducted on mechanic unit by measuring students' conceptual understanding of subjects and attitudes towards implementation. The study was carried out with 42 freshman students who were admitted to science education department in a university at Eastern Turkey. Results indicated that the SWH approach and the reporting format significantly increased students' mechanic unit achievement, conceptual understanding of the unit and attitudes toward laboratory. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.