The Misconceptions of Senior High School Students in Banjarmasin on Chemical Bonding

Abstract

This research was conducted to identify the misconceptions of students in SMAN 2, SMAN 3, SMAN 4, SMAN 5, SMAN 7, SMAN 8, and SMAN 13 Banjarmasin on chemical bonding. This study aimed at determining: (1) the percentage of students’ misconceptions in each school, (2) the kinds of students’ misconceptions in learning the chemical bonds in schools, and (3) the causes of the misconceptions. The present study was a quantitative-qualitative descriptive design survey study. The population of the study was the students of all public senior high schools in Banjarmasin, with seven public senior high schools in Banjarmasin as the sample of the study. This sample was selected based on the status and level of the school. The data of the students’ misconceptions were collected by administrating closed-reasoned multiple choice test. An interview was conducted to strengthen the assessment of the misconceptions experienced by students. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the percentage of misconceptions experienced by students in SMAN 2 Banjarmasin was 48.52%, 46.29% in SMAN 3 Banjarmasin, 43.33% in SMAN 4 Banjarmasin, 50.37% in SMAN 5 Banjarmasin, SMAN 7 Banjarmasin 48.15%, SMAN 8 Banjarmasin 39.63% and 48.51% SMAN 13 Banjarmasin. Students had some misconceptions in the sub-concepts of Bonding, Lattice, Intermolecular Forces, and Electrical Conductivity of Graphite. These misconceptions were caused by preconceptions or initial concept of students, the stage of cognitive development of students, and the teacher's explanation.

Keywords: students’ misconceptions, preconceptions, alternative concepts, chemical bonds