Thesis (M.S.) in Teaching--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-135).

This study explored outcomes of inquiry-based teaching and learning as perceived by students, and which they felt were the most important or salient. Participants were 6 teachers and their 181 students in classes categorized as least, middle, and most with respect to degrees of using inquiry. Information from teacher interviews was used to place classes in these groups. A student questionnaire, constructed using a criterion-referenced list of potential inquiry outcomes from a literature search, assessed the extent to which they experienced these outcomes in their classes. Principal Components Analysis yielded four components from the 32 items. A MANOVA then used these components as dependent variables, with inquiry level as the independent variable. The most inquiry group significantly more strongly endorsed Component 1--learning competencies, including several inquiry-related outcomes. On Component 2-personal motivation, most inquiry students responded more favorably than middle inquiry. The most inquiry group more highly endorsed items addressing increased responsibility for their learning (Component 3), and the least inquiry group rated more highly items that were related to traditional teacher and student roles (Component 4) such as memorization of information; the middle inquiry group highly endorsed items combining both of these components. Inquiry provides optimal conditions for students to achieve outcomes less likely to be found in a more traditional classroom. Students' responses regarding cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of the most inquiry-oriented classes affirmed that, consistent with social constructivist theory, unique outcomes are achieved through inquiry more frequently and more effectively than through other forms of instruction.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Whitewater, 2005. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-47). Also available via the Internet (PDF format).

Thesis (M. S.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr. Penny J. Gilmer, Florida State University, College of Education, Dept. of Middle and Secondary Education. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 19, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 80 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

This study compared middle school (i.e., fifth, sixth and seventh grade) students’ mental models of the day/night cycle before and after implementation of three inquiry-based treatments. The three treatments were classified as 1) structured inquiry, 2) guided inquiry, and 3) student-directed inquiry. All three treatments used Starry Night Middle School interactive simulation software to investigate the phenomenon of the day/night cycle. Additionally, all three treatments were based on two researcher-developed lessons using Starry Night Middle School. The participants were 145 fifth, sixth, and seventh grade students who were purposively selected from a public school in a U.S. state. For the purpose of this study, the students remained in their classrooms. There were three classrooms per grade level. Those classrooms were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments. Students’ scores on a pretest, immediate posttest, and delayed posttest were analyzed. Students from a purposive sample were interviewed after the pretest, immediate posttest, and delayed posttest to clarify student mental models of the day/night cycle. The students were chosen based upon their score on the multiple-choice test. Seven of the selected students were in the Structured Inquiry group. Eleven of the selected students were in the Guided Inquiry group. Five of the selected students were in the Student-directed Inquiry group. First, the comparative effects of Structured Inquiry, Guided Inquiry, and Student-directed Inquiry on middle school students’ mental models of the day/night cycle immediately and three months following the intervention revealed no statistical difference among the three treatments. Time, however, appeared to have a significant negative effect on students’ mental models of the day/night cycle. Second, inquiry groups did not differ significantly in their mental models. Third, there was no interaction between starting mental model and the type of inquiry. The major findings demonstrate that all three treatments promote learning, but that no one treatment is more effective than another.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (March 1, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-108). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Inquiry pedagogy encompasses many strategies and approaches (e.g., student-centered learning, a participatory role among students and teachers in constructing the curriculum, fostering autonomy) that have been identified to increase intrinsic motivation and mastery goal-oriented approaches to learning. However, little if any investigation has been conducted to investigate the motivation that is experienced among bright and average achieving students when engaged in this learning environment. Csikszentmihalyi's Flow theory is considered an optimal form of intrinsic motivation and has been linked to bright students because they appear to exhibit high motivation when engaged in challenging and interesting material. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether Flow was a good theoretical framework in which to explore the motivation that is experienced among high achieving and average achieving students in inquiry education and traditional settings. Participating students (N = 272, M age = 11.68) were from different instructional settings (i.e., traditional, occasional inquiry, and frequent inquiry classrooms) from upper elementary and early secondary school grades (grades five through eight). Data collection consisted of two administrations of questionnaires that targeted Flow experiences, one in a unit that students had recently completed in their particular instructional environment and the other, being more ideal, explored their experiences in their favorite subjects. Flow was measured using the Flow States Scale - 2; goal orientation and intrinsic motivation were used to further validate the Flow construct and were measured using the Goal Orientation Scale, and the Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Orientation in the Classroom Scale. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with each teacher and eighteen randomly selected students. All students regardless of ability report higher Flow states in inquiry settings than students' experiences from traditional and occasional inquiry classrooms. Additionally, high ability students report the highest Flow states when engaged in their favorite subjects. The quantitative results were corroborated by the interview results.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-185). Also available on the World Wide Web.