兒童的能力概念影響其面對失敗時的歸因模式、進而影響其成就目標與學習動機。目前對兒童能力概念發展的研究，對象多以美國地區的兒童為主，極少針對台灣地區的兒童研究其能力概念的發展，因此本研究以台灣地區的兒童為對象，了解在台灣的文化環境下兒童能力概念發展之情形。 / 本研究的受試者為8歲、10歲、12歲的小學生共84人，以結構式訪談的方式，分別針對能力的定義、能力的改變性、以及能力與努力的關係等方面，了解兒童的能力概念發展情形。研究結果發現：在「能力的定義」、「能力是否隨環境而改變」、「能力是否受自身努力而改變」、「變聰明的方法」、「能力與努力的關係」等方面，受試者的回答呈現出年齡發展趨勢。研究者對研究結果加以討論，並提出研究限制及未來研究方向建議。

This study was performed to determine what content in biology was perceived as difficult and important to learn and to investigate whether there is a relationship between reasoning ability, gender, perceived difficulty and importance. A total of 397 Grade 11 students and sixteen biology teachers participated in the study. Students and teachers&rsquo / perceptions of difficult and important to learn concepts were determined through a questionnaire. Moreover, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students and teachers to determine the intrinsic difficulties and sources of difficulties. Descriptive statistics was used to determine frequencies of difficult, moderate and easy biology concepts as perceived by students and teachers. Biotechnology and genetic engineering, hormones, photosynthesis, genes, Mendelian genetics and respiration were found to be difficult concepts for students to learn. On the other hand, the students identified producers, consumers, and decomposers, active transport, diffusion and osmosis as easy topics. In addition, cell, enzyme, cell division, respiratory system in vertebrates, protein synthesis, and reproduction in animals are selected as important topics in the curriculum to be learned. On the contrary, body systems in invertebrates and animal tissues are found to be less important topics to be learned. Students&rsquo / reasoning ability was assessed by using Group test of Logical Thinking (GALT). While a statistically significant negative correlation was found between reasoning ability and percieved difficulty (r= -.115, p&lt / . 05), no statisticaly significant relationship between gender and perceived difficulty was found.