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All Outputs (44)

How Science Works. (2009)
Journal Article
Roberts, R. (2009). How Science Works. Education in science, 233, 30-31

Practical work and the importance of scientific evidence in science curricula. (2008)
Journal Article
Roberts, R., & Gott, R. (2008). Practical work and the importance of scientific evidence in science curricula. Education in science, 230, 8-9

Stimulated by the call for evidence on behalf of SCORE requesting views on practical work in science, this article responds to some frequently asked questions with reference to science teaching in compulsory schooling to GCSE (up to the age of 16).

The role of evidence in the new KS4 National Curriculum for England and the AQA specifications (2006)
Journal Article
Roberts, R., & Gott, R. (2006). The role of evidence in the new KS4 National Curriculum for England and the AQA specifications. School science review, 87(321), 29-39

This article considers the importance of evidence in the new key stage 4 (ages 14–16) National Curriculum for England section called ‘How science works’. We specify the ‘thinking behind the doing’ as the basis for a procedural understanding and consi... Read More about The role of evidence in the new KS4 National Curriculum for England and the AQA specifications.

Assessment of Performance in Practical Science and Pupil Attributes (2006)
Journal Article
Roberts, R., & Gott, R. (2006). Assessment of Performance in Practical Science and Pupil Attributes. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 13(1), 45-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695940600563652

Performance assessment in the UK science General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) currently relies on pupil reports of their investigations. These are widely criticized. Written tests of procedural understanding could be used as an alternati... Read More about Assessment of Performance in Practical Science and Pupil Attributes.

Progression in Science Education (2005)
Book Chapter
Jones, M., Newton, L., & Roberts, R. (2005). Progression in Science Education. In L. Newton (Ed.), Meeting the standards in secondary science : a guide to the ITT NC (143-152). Routledge

Evidence - The Real Issues behind Science 1 (2005)
Book Chapter
Jones, M., & Roberts, R. (2005). Evidence - The Real Issues behind Science 1. In L. Newton (Ed.), Meeting the standards in secondary science : a guide to the ITT NC (22-31). Routledge

Assessment of Sc1: alternatives to coursework? (2004)
Journal Article
Roberts, R., & Gott, R. (2004). Assessment of Sc1: alternatives to coursework?. School science review, 85(313), 103-108

This article considers the problems associated with reliable performance assessment of Sc1 investigations and explores the pros and cons of alternative forms of assessment of pupils’ ability to investigate.

A written test for procedural understanding: a way forward for assessment in the UK science curriculum? (2004)
Journal Article
Gott, R., & Roberts, R. (2004). A written test for procedural understanding: a way forward for assessment in the UK science curriculum?. Research in Science and Technological Education, 22(1), 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/0263514042000187511

A recent UK House of Commons report on Science 14-19 identified problems with coursework and argued for a greater emphasis on teaching and assessment of scientific literacy. This paper describes a written test for procedural understanding, given to 1... Read More about A written test for procedural understanding: a way forward for assessment in the UK science curriculum?.

Assessment of biology investigations (2003)
Journal Article
Roberts, R., & Gott, R. (2003). Assessment of biology investigations. Journal of Biological Education, 37(3), 114-121

This review makes a case for the assessment of investigations against the Concepts of Evidence in written tests as a potentially more reliable and valid way of assessing the ideas used in all types of biology investigations, thus reducing the distort... Read More about Assessment of biology investigations.

Investigations: collecting and using evidence (2002)
Book Chapter
Roberts, R., & Gott, R. (2002). Investigations: collecting and using evidence. In D. Sang, & V. Wood-Robinson (Eds.), Teaching secondary scientific enquiry. ASE/John Murray

Procedural understanding in biology : the 'thinking behind the doing' (2001)
Journal Article
Roberts, R. (2001). Procedural understanding in biology : the 'thinking behind the doing'. Journal of Biological Education, 35(3), 113-117

Procedural understanding should be taught to students for an understanding of the 'nature of science'. Considers some of the concepts of evidence that are particularly important to biology, and discusses how and why these ideas could be taught.

Science Investigations 3 (1999)
Book
Gott, R., Foulds, K., Roberts, R., Jones, M., & Johnson, P. (1999). Science Investigations 3. Collins Educational