This paper presents work on the relatively under-researched topic of children's graphical knowledge. First, it extends Janvier's [1] re- search on the graph-as-picture misconception (GAPm, e.g. interpreting a line graph as the picture of a mountain) by identifying the prevalence of GAPm in a younger population (primary school students) and by ex- amining age e ects and gender di erences. We used an established psy- chometric approach to identify GAPm and non-GAPm individuals but we also investigated the cognitive information processing behaviour of these two groups of students on an interactive diagram/picture decision task designed to provide insights into how students mentally represent their graphical knowledge. In the decision task, a wide variety of dia- grammatic and pictorial stimulus pairs were presented to participants. Students decided whether to classify them as \\\\more like diagrams" or \\\\more like pictures". One in four of the students studied showed evidence of possessing a GAPm, with a higher prevalence in boys than in girls. It is argued that well-intentioned but ultimately pedagenic teaching prac- tices may engender GAPm in primary students. Technology-enhanced learning interventions for remediating the GAPm are also discussed.
History
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Published
Publisher
Springer, Lecture Notes in Computer Science series