Abstract
According to policy documents and research studies, one key objective of science education is to develop students’ inquiry abilities; however, relatively little is known about the interplay among students’ inquiry abilities, the dimensions of their engagement, and their inquiry-related curiosity. The purpose of this study is to explore how four dimensions of engagement (i.e., cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social) were driven by inquiry-related curiosity and how they affected the students’ inquiry abilities. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze data collected from 605 11th graders, including their responses to items in an online questionnaire and their performances on a computer-based assessment of scientific inquiry abilities. The results showed that students’ curiosity was associated with their inquiry abilities, and such an association was partially mediated by the four dimensions of engagement in science laboratory classes. Moreover, the results revealed that among the four dimensions of engagement, only cognitive and emotional engagement had significant total effects on students’ inquiry abilities and that the influence of behavioral and social engagement on inquiry abilities was completely mediated by cognitive engagement. This study suggests a critical role played by emotional engagement, cognitive engagement, and curiosity in developing students’ inquiry abilities.
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Acknowledgements
This study was finally supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan under MOST 103–2511-S-003–038-MY4, MOST 106–2511-S-003–046-MY3, and the “Institute for Research Excellence in Learning Sciences” of National Taiwan Normal University from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan.
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Appendices
Appendix A
Descriptive statistics of the indicators.
Indicators | Pv_1 | Curi1 | Curi2 | Curi3 | Curi4 | Curi5 | CE_1 | CE_2 | CE_3 | CE_4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 |
Kolmogorov–Smirnova | 0.056*** | 0.365*** | 0.346*** | 0.313*** | 0.331*** | 0.317*** | 0.245*** | 0.235*** | 0.236*** | 0.287*** |
Mean | 0.247 | 3.14 | 3.09 | 3.15 | 3.21 | 3.06 | 2.82 | 2.74 | 2.67 | 2.99 |
Std. Deviation | 0.663 | 0.601 | 0.628 | 0.656 | 0.628 | 0.678 | 0.755 | 0.799 | 0.793 | 0.747 |
Variance | 0.440 | 0.362 | 0.395 | 0.43 | 0.395 | 0.46 | 0.571 | 0.639 | 0.629 | 0.558 |
Minimum | − 1.891 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Maximum | 2.150 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Indicators | CE_5 | CE_6 | CE_7 | CE_8 | CE_9 | BE_1 | BE_2 | BE_3 | BE_4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 |
Kolmogorov–Smirnova | 0.300*** | 0.293*** | 0.240*** | 0.251*** | 0.224*** | 0.269*** | 0.271*** | 0.290*** | 0.231*** |
Mean | 2.92 | 2.9 | 2.47 | 2.58 | 2.65 | 3.04 | 3.07 | 2.94 | 2.67 |
Std. Deviation | 0.777 | 0.775 | 0.815 | 0.827 | 0.836 | 0.722 | 0.716 | 0.724 | 0.793 |
Variance | 0.604 | 0.6 | 0.664 | 0.685 | 0.699 | 0.522 | 0.512 | 0.525 | 0.629 |
Minimum | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Maximum | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Indicators | BE_5 | BE_6 | BE_7 | BE_8 | EE_1 | EE_2 | EE_3 | EE_4 | EE_5 | EE_6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 |
Kolmogorov–Smirnova | 0.319*** | 0.492*** | 0.271*** | 0.394*** | 0.196*** | 0.230*** | 0.260*** | 0.262*** | 0.285*** | 0.410*** |
Mean | 2.24 | 3.76 | 3.29 | 3.55 | 2.82 | 2.87 | 2.96 | 2.88 | 3.33 | 3.56 |
Std. Deviation | 0.748 | 0.558 | 0.68 | 0.663 | 0.906 | 0.842 | 0.797 | 0.817 | 0.734 | 0.713 |
Variance | 0.559 | 0.312 | 0.462 | 0.44 | 0.821 | 0.709 | 0.636 | 0.668 | 0.539 | 0.509 |
Minimum | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Maximum | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Indicators | EE_7 | EE_8 | EE_9 | SE_1 | SE_2 | SE_3 | SE_4 | SE_5 | SE_6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 | 605 |
Kolmogorov–Smirnova | 0.438*** | 0.458*** | 0.437*** | 0.257*** | 0.257*** | 0.297*** | 0.290*** | 0.309*** | 0.366*** |
Mean | 3.61 | 3.69 | 3.63 | 2.55 | 2.6 | 2.94 | 2.78 | 3.33 | 3.49 |
Std. Deviation | 0.678 | 0.598 | 0.626 | 0.765 | 0.788 | 0.733 | 0.748 | 0.804 | 0.729 |
Variance | 0.46 | 0.358 | 0.392 | 0.585 | 0.621 | 0.538 | 0.559 | 0.647 | 0.532 |
Minimum | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Maximum | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
aThe value of Kolmogorov–Smirnov represents the tests of normality
*p < 0.05. **p < 0.01. ***p < 0.001
Appendix B
Correlation matrix of the indicators (N = 605).
Indicators | pv_1 | Curi1 | Curi2 | Curi3 | Curi4 | Curi5 | CE_1 | CE_2 | CE_3 | CE_4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pv_1 | 1 | |||||||||
Curi1 | 0.170** | 1 | ||||||||
Curi2 | 0.132** | 0.637** | 1 | |||||||
Curi3 | 0.214** | 0.574** | 0.663** | 1 | ||||||
Curi4 | 0.219** | 0.630** | 0.616** | 0.698** | 1 | |||||
Curi5 | 0.160** | 0.576** | 0.571** | 0.620** | 0.662** | 1 | ||||
CE_1 | 0.109** | 0.293** | 0.263** | 0.269** | 0.330** | 0.344** | 1 | |||
CE_2 | 0.078 | 0.356** | 0.322** | 0.327** | 0.369** | 0.337** | 0.431** | 1 | ||
CE_3 | 0.122** | 0.332** | 0.288** | 0.294** | 0.349** | 0.348** | 0.346** | 0.618** | 1 | |
CE_4 | 0.210** | 0.390** | 0.383** | 0.364** | 0.445** | 0.396** | 0.508** | 0.521** | 0.526** | 1 |
CE_5 | 0.05 | 0.005 | 0.046 | 0.119** | 0.013 | 0.016 | 0.07 | 0.117** | 0.019 | 0.079 |
CE_6 | 0.099* | 0.089* | 0.104* | 0.119** | 0.082* | 0.103* | 0.062 | 0.112** | 0.017 | 0.130** |
CE_7 | − 0.06 | − 0.021 | − 0.036 | − 0.036 | − 0.062 | − 0.042 | − 0.099* | 0.120** | 0.092* | 0.045 |
CE_8 | 0.076 | 0.268** | 0.275** | 0.265** | 0.272** | 0.275** | 0.391** | 0.446** | 0.433** | 0.399** |
CE_9 | 0.142** | 0.312** | 0.302** | 0.366** | 0.324** | 0.338** | 0.304** | 0.446** | 0.508** | 0.467** |
BE_1 | 0.135** | 0.247** | 0.288** | 0.289** | 0.308** | 0.303** | 0.509** | 0.335** | 0.316** | 0.455** |
BE_2 | 0.157** | 0.305** | 0.344** | 0.359** | 0.385** | 0.347** | 0.487** | 0.363** | 0.357** | 0.493** |
BE_3 | 0.165** | 0.354** | 0.360** | 0.395** | 0.412** | 0.374** | 0.489** | 0.495** | 0.402** | 0.574** |
BE_4 | 0.055 | 0.239** | 0.198** | 0.227** | 0.219** | 0.231** | 0.357** | 0.247** | 0.234** | 0.289** |
BE_5 | 0.006 | 0.288** | 0.283** | 0.287** | 0.281** | 0.295** | 0.251** | 0.352** | 0.395** | 0.347** |
BE_6 | 0.245** | 0.034 | 0.041 | 0.100* | 0.063 | 0.064 | 0.154** | 0.025 | 0.011 | 0.158** |
BE_7 | 0.128** | 0.031 | 0.079 | 0.130** | 0.089* | 0.056 | 0.192** | 0.072 | 0.02 | 0.125** |
BE_8 | 0.188** | 0.158** | 0.150** | 0.187** | 0.174** | 0.129** | 0.171** | 0.153** | 0.077 | 0.240** |
EE_1 | 0.210** | 0.250** | 0.298** | 0.332** | 0.321** | 0.303** | 0.365** | 0.312** | 0.239** | 0.348** |
EE_2 | 0.183** | 0.267** | 0.370** | 0.382** | 0.354** | 0.336** | 0.407** | 0.406** | 0.350** | 0.441** |
EE_3 | 0.213** | 0.344** | 0.424** | 0.452** | 0.411** | 0.418** | 0.392** | 0.456** | 0.397** | 0.480** |
EE_4 | 0.174** | 0.244** | 0.278** | 0.287** | 0.326** | 0.264** | 0.338** | 0.346** | 0.279** | 0.386** |
EE_5 | 0.063 | 0.02 | 0.124** | 0.143** | 0.076 | 0.110** | 0.136** | 0.097* | 0.025 | 0.135** |
EE_6 | 0.129** | 0.033 | 0.124** | 0.165** | 0.123** | 0.126** | 0.133** | 0.104* | 0.03 | 0.195** |
EE_7 | 0.203** | 0.113** | 0.189** | 0.237** | 0.149** | 0.202** | 0.207** | 0.145** | 0.152** | 0.265** |
EE_8 | 0.131** | 0.047 | 0.086* | 0.100* | 0.082* | 0.066 | 0.085* | 0.018 | 0.023 | 0.131** |
EE_9 | 0.160** | 0.03 | 0.073 | 0.068 | 0.091* | 0.036 | 0.04 | − 0.01 | 0.012 | 0.086* |
SE_1 | 0.075 | 0.352** | 0.354** | 0.314** | 0.365** | 0.370** | 0.334** | 0.499** | 0.500** | 0.445** |
SE_2 | 0.096* | 0.278** | 0.368** | 0.357** | 0.343** | 0.379** | 0.320** | 0.392** | 0.410** | 0.442** |
SE_3 | 0.171** | 0.241** | 0.231** | 0.291** | 0.355** | 0.304** | 0.300** | 0.295** | 0.332** | 0.377** |
SE_4 | 0.139** | 0.284** | 0.267** | 0.294** | 0.320** | 0.310** | 0.396** | 0.420** | 0.397** | 0.453** |
SE_5 | 0.05 | 0.037 | 0.096* | 0.082* | 0.054 | 0.049 | 0.085* | 0.021 | 0.064 | 0.071 |
SE_6 | 0.126** | 0.048 | 0.084* | 0.129** | 0.077 | 0.099* | 0.077 | 0.088* | 0.109** | 0.108** |
Indicators | CE_5 | CE_6 | CE_7 | CE_8 | CE_9 | BE_1 | BE_2 | BE_3 | BE_4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pv_1 | |||||||||
Curi1 | |||||||||
Curi2 | |||||||||
Curi3 | |||||||||
Curi4 | |||||||||
Curi5 | |||||||||
CE_1 | |||||||||
CE_2 | |||||||||
CE_3 | |||||||||
CE_4 | |||||||||
CE_5 | 1 | ||||||||
CE_6 | 0.610** | 1 | |||||||
CE_7 | 0.309** | 0.393** | 1 | ||||||
CE_8 | 0.109** | 0.068 | 0.049 | 1 | |||||
CE_9 | 0.069 | 0.086* | 0.080* | 0.494** | 1 | ||||
BE_1 | 0.109** | 0.143** | − 0.080* | 0.264** | 0.312** | 1 | |||
BE_2 | 0.087* | 0.150** | − 0.011 | 0.288** | 0.352** | 0.866** | 1 | ||
BE_3 | 0.150** | 0.264** | 0.061 | 0.360** | 0.409** | 0.646** | 0.675** | 1 | |
BE_4 | 0.108** | 0.100* | − 0.131** | 0.236** | 0.201** | 0.504** | 0.473** | 0.465** | 1 |
BE_5 | 0.009 | 0.057 | 0.005 | 0.382** | 0.439** | 0.303** | 0.342** | 0.380** | 0.353** |
BE_6 | 0.274** | 0.287** | 0.138** | 0.018 | 0.018 | 0.165** | 0.201** | 0.150** | 0.019 |
BE_7 | 0.354** | 0.401** | 0.159** | 0.058 | 0.071 | 0.292** | 0.273** | 0.219** | 0.174** |
BE_8 | 0.354** | 0.441** | 0.235** | 0.144** | 0.127** | 0.176** | 0.230** | 0.322** | 0.077 |
EE_1 | 0.094* | 0.212** | 0.094* | 0.245** | 0.265** | 0.447** | 0.462** | 0.479** | 0.218** |
EE_2 | 0.160** | 0.235** | 0.102* | 0.328** | 0.370** | 0.558** | 0.570** | 0.579** | 0.298** |
EE_3 | 0.123** | 0.178** | 0.099* | 0.380** | 0.438** | 0.520** | 0.556** | 0.581** | 0.277** |
EE_4 | 0.088* | 0.174** | 0.077 | 0.234** | 0.317** | 0.450** | 0.449** | 0.503** | 0.259** |
EE_5 | 0.330** | 0.354** | 0.165** | 0.076 | 0.049 | 0.268** | 0.277** | 0.266** | 0.133** |
EE_6 | 0.264** | 0.324** | 0.154** | 0.098* | 0.066 | 0.247** | 0.252** | 0.284** | 0.115** |
EE_7 | 0.293** | 0.348** | 0.151** | 0.144** | 0.156** | 0.323** | 0.333** | 0.345** | 0.195** |
EE_8 | 0.182** | 0.248** | 0.142** | 0.015 | 0.031 | 0.172** | 0.207** | 0.188** | 0.096* |
EE_9 | 0.147** | 0.239** | 0.134** | − 0.06 | − 0.01 | 0.125** | 0.176** | 0.117** | 0.025 |
SE_1 | 0.045 | 0.092* | 0.068 | 0.381** | 0.519** | 0.380** | 0.384** | 0.476** | 0.255** |
SE_2 | 0.056 | 0.109** | 0.041 | 0.388** | 0.451** | 0.372** | 0.402** | 0.467** | 0.373** |
SE_3 | − 0.029 | − 0.005 | − 0.082* | 0.282** | 0.332** | 0.351** | 0.361** | 0.330** | 0.276** |
SE_4 | 0.065 | 0.092* | 0.008 | 0.316** | 0.419** | 0.444** | 0.429** | 0.481** | 0.296** |
SE_5 | 0.220** | 0.247** | 0.203** | 0.065 | 0.05 | 0.150** | 0.149** | 0.104* | 0.171** |
SE_6 | 0.183** | 0.236** | 0.188** | 0.085* | 0.200** | 0.130** | 0.157** | 0.107** | 0.089* |
Indicators | BE_5 | BE_6 | BE_7 | BE_8 | EE_1 | EE_2 | EE_3 | EE_4 | EE_5 | EE_6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pv_1 | ||||||||||
Curi1 | ||||||||||
Curi2 | ||||||||||
Curi3 | ||||||||||
Curi4 | ||||||||||
Curi5 | ||||||||||
CE_1 | ||||||||||
CE_2 | ||||||||||
CE_3 | ||||||||||
CE_4 | ||||||||||
CE_5 | ||||||||||
CE_6 | ||||||||||
CE_7 | ||||||||||
CE_8 | ||||||||||
CE_9 | ||||||||||
BE_1 | ||||||||||
BE_2 | ||||||||||
BE_3 | ||||||||||
BE_4 | ||||||||||
BE_5 | 1 | |||||||||
BE_6 | − 0.121** | 1 | ||||||||
BE_7 | 0.061 | 0.508** | 1 | |||||||
BE_8 | 0.008 | 0.577** | 0.522** | 1 | ||||||
EE_1 | 0.287** | 0.204** | 0.210** | 0.210** | 1 | |||||
EE_2 | 0.361** | 0.189** | 0.236** | 0.230** | 0.778** | 1 | ||||
EE_3 | 0.414** | 0.171** | 0.218** | 0.222** | 0.682** | 0.835** | 1 | |||
EE_4 | 0.304** | 0.184** | 0.236** | 0.195** | 0.633** | 0.634** | 0.628** | 1 | ||
EE_5 | 0.101* | 0.350** | 0.424** | 0.381** | 0.371** | 0.377** | 0.315** | 0.300** | 1 | |
EE_6 | 0.055 | 0.448** | 0.435** | 0.430** | 0.465** | 0.406** | 0.323** | 0.350** | 0.677** | 1 |
EE_7 | 0.143** | 0.449** | 0.444** | 0.489** | 0.386** | 0.405** | 0.374** | 0.296** | 0.546** | 0.677** |
EE_8 | − 0.037 | 0.430** | 0.376** | 0.398** | 0.216** | 0.206** | 0.171** | 0.249** | 0.457** | 0.525** |
EE_9 | − 0.025 | 0.340** | 0.323** | 0.361** | 0.128** | 0.136** | 0.106** | 0.177** | 0.328** | 0.355** |
SE_1 | 0.447** | − 0.01 | 0.045 | 0.090* | 0.334** | 0.413** | 0.450** | 0.320** | 0.074 | 0.091* |
SE_2 | 0.464** | 0.058 | 0.118** | 0.135** | 0.354** | 0.461** | 0.464** | 0.374** | 0.109** | 0.138** |
SE_3 | 0.292** | 0.110** | 0.069 | 0.076 | 0.328** | 0.333** | 0.350** | 0.364** | 0.114** | 0.132** |
SE_4 | 0.375** | 0.084* | 0.107** | 0.092* | 0.407** | 0.419** | 0.421** | 0.431** | 0.162** | 0.199** |
SE_5 | 0.082* | 0.293** | 0.299** | 0.306** | 0.129** | 0.198** | 0.117** | 0.101* | 0.285** | 0.316** |
SE_6 | 0.082* | 0.396** | 0.337** | 0.335** | 0.160** | 0.201** | 0.171** | 0.144** | 0.261** | 0.316** |
Indicators | EE_7 | EE_8 | EE_9 | SE_1 | SE_2 | SE_3 | SE_4 | SE_5 | SE_6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pv_1 | |||||||||
Curi1 | |||||||||
Curi2 | |||||||||
Curi3 | |||||||||
Curi4 | |||||||||
Curi5 | |||||||||
CE_1 | |||||||||
CE_2 | |||||||||
CE_3 | |||||||||
CE_4 | |||||||||
CE_5 | |||||||||
CE_6 | |||||||||
CE_7 | |||||||||
CE_8 | |||||||||
CE_9 | |||||||||
BE_1 | |||||||||
BE_2 | |||||||||
BE_3 | |||||||||
BE_4 | |||||||||
BE_5 | |||||||||
BE_6 | |||||||||
BE_7 | |||||||||
BE_8 | |||||||||
EE_1 | |||||||||
EE_2 | |||||||||
EE_3 | |||||||||
EE_4 | |||||||||
EE_5 | |||||||||
EE_6 | |||||||||
EE_7 | 1 | ||||||||
EE_8 | 0.496** | 1 | |||||||
EE_9 | 0.397** | 0.574** | 1 | ||||||
SE_1 | 0.156** | − 0.03 | − 0.022 | 1 | |||||
SE_2 | 0.235** | 0.014 | 0.017 | 0.663** | 1 | ||||
SE_3 | 0.155** | 0.024 | 0.048 | 0.406** | 0.474** | 1 | |||
SE_4 | 0.223** | 0.061 | 0.079 | 0.490** | 0.501** | 0.549** | 1 | ||
SE_5 | 0.396** | 0.265** | 0.178** | 0.063 | 0.246** | 0.068 | 0.097* | 1 | |
SE_6 | 0.349** | 0.394** | 0.297** | 0.058 | 0.163** | 0.139** | 0.163** | 0.474** | 1 |
PV_1 represents the first of the plausible values to which the indicator of students’ inquiry abilities refers. Curi1 to Curi5 represent the indicators of the inquiry-related curiosity. CE_1 to CE_9 represent the indicators of the students’ cognitive engagement. BE_1 to BE_8 represent the indicators of the students’ behavioral engagement. EE_1 to EE_9 represent the indicators of the students’ emotional engagement. SE_1 to SE_6 represent the indicators of the students’ social engagement.
*p < 0.05. **p < 0.01. ***p < 0.001
Appendix C
Validation of the 37 indicators (N = 605).
Variable/indicators | Cronbach's α | Cronbach's α if Indicator Deleted |
|---|---|---|
Curi | 0.89(5)a | ─ |
Curi_1 | 0.707 | ─ |
Curi_2 | 0.732 | ─ |
Curi_3 | 0.757 | ─ |
Curi_4 | 0.777 | ─ |
Curi_5 | 0.712 | ─ |
CE | 0.77 (9)a | 0.83 (6)a |
CE_1 | ─ | 0.75 |
CE_2 | ─ | 0.72 |
CE_3 | ─ | 0.73 |
CE_4 | ─ | 0.73 |
CE_5b | ─ | 0.77 |
CE_6b | ─ | 0.76 |
CE_7b | ─ | 0.78 |
CE_8 | ─ | 0.73 |
CE_9 | ─ | 0.73 |
BE | 0.80 (8)a | 0.80 (6)a |
BE_1 | ─ | 0.74 |
BE_2 | ─ | 0.74 |
BE_3 | ─ | 0.75 |
BE_4 | ─ | 0.78 |
BE_5b | ─ | 0.81 |
BE_6b | ─ | 0.80 |
BE_7 | ─ | 0.79 |
BE_8 | ─ | 0.79 |
EE | 0.87 (9)a | 0.88 (7)a |
EE_1 | ─ | 0.84 |
EE_2 | ─ | 0.84 |
EE_3 | ─ | 0.85 |
EE_4 | ─ | 0.85 |
EE_5 | ─ | 0.85 |
EE_6 | ─ | 0.85 |
EE_7 | ─ | 0.85 |
EE_8b | ─ | 0.86 |
EE_9b | ─ | 0.87 |
SE | 0.72 (6)a | 0.81 (4)a |
SE_1 | ─ | 0.66 |
SE_2 | ─ | 0.62 |
SE_3 | ─ | 0.68 |
SE_4 | ─ | 0.66 |
SE_5b | ─ | 0.74 |
SE_6b | ─ | 0.73 |
aThe numbers in the parentheses show the numbers of indicators for each variable
bThe indicators were deleted for better reliabilities
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Wu, PH., Wu, HK. Constructing a model of engagement in scientific inquiry: investigating relationships between inquiry-related curiosity, dimensions of engagement, and inquiry abilities. Instr Sci 48, 79–113 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-020-09503-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-020-09503-8