Research group Conceptual Change
The research is based on a constructivist perspective with a focus on conceptual change, where students revise and reconstruct prior knowledge as they encounter concepts and theories addressed in teaching. The main areas are geography and social studies with a particular emphasis on economics.
Group description
We develop theories of knowledge formation – how knowledge is created and change into new insights. We focus on conceptual change theoretically and empirically and examine how the process unfolds as students create new understandings when encountering scientific concepts and explanations. In our research we use a variety of methods and design interventions.
Research on conceptual change originates in Piaget's work and has expanded since the 1970s to encompass all subjects. Over the past fifteen years, there has been a growing emphasis on affective aspects such as emotions, identity, and values that influence learning. Additionally, conceptual change research investigates students' views of science – epistemic beliefs – and how such beliefs affect conceptual development and learning.
Focus topics
The research focuses on education in geography and social studies at all levels of the educational system. Social studies in primary and secondary education include a wide range of subjects such as economics, law, and political science, for example politics, democracy and policy. Additionally, research centres on business economics, history, religious education and philosophy.
We also research teacher education on social studies and religious education to advance teacher students’ conceptual understanding and knowledge of planning instruction.
Climate change, environmental problems and sustainability are integrated into - or related to - geography and social studies and are part of the research agenda.
Group members
Group managers
Cecilia Lundholm
Professor
Members
Adam Jacobsson
Lecturer
Caroline Ignell
Senior lecturer
Gabriel Bladh
Professor of Social Science Education
Linda Ekström
Filosofie doktor
Maja Torres Madzar
Lecturer
Mattias Arrhenius
Doktorand
Peter Davies
Professor
Research projects
Publications
Using Visual Representations to Enhance Students’ Understanding of Causal Relationships in Price.
Jägerskog, A-S. (2020). Using Visual Representations to Enhance Students’ Understanding of Causal Relationships in Price. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 65(1):1-18.