Beliefs regarding force and motion: A longitudinal and cross-cultural study of South African school pupils

The perceived link between force and motion was investigated in a longitudinal and cross-cultural study involving 2326 pupils in schools in the Cape Province and Transkei areas of the Republic of South Africa using a multiple choice questionnaire designed for the purpose. Pupils of all ages and academic groups overwhelmingly selected options which indicate a belief in the need for the presence of a force acting in the direction of motion in order to sustain motion. Results are presented, some secondary findings are extracted, conclusions are reached and the implications of the findings are discussed.