Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn)
Vol 19, No 1: February 2025

Investigating misconceptions about acids and bases among pre-service science teachers

Nur Farha Shaafi (Universiti Malaysia Sabah)
Mohammad Mubarrak Mohd Yusof (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Ellianawati Ellianawati (Universitas Negeri Semarang)
Bambang Subali (Universitas Negeri Semarang)
Muhammad Haziq Hazim Raji’e (Universiti Teknologi MARA)



Article Info

Publish Date
02 Feb 2025

Abstract

This study examines prevalent misconceptions among students regarding the fundamental concepts of acids and bases, which often arise during the learning process. This study aims to pinpoint misconceptions held by pre-service science teachers in the realm of acids and bases; 117 university students from diverse educational backgrounds, enrolled in three distinct courses: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from the Faculty of Education, participated in the study. Using a structured questionnaire, the research identified 11 misconceptions out of 26 items related to acid and base concepts among pre-service teachers, while 15 items showed a correct understanding. Notably, three misconceptions exhibit the highest prevalence, namely the universal indicator of strong alkali (71.7%), the calculation-related concentration of acids and bases (69.3%), and the procedural steps for preparing a solution with a specified concentration using the dilution method (65.8%). The analysis indicates that although pre-service teachers generally understand acid and base concepts well, some misconceptions persist. Additionally, correlations between gender, university major, and understanding of these concepts were found. Further global research is recommended to identify misconceptions among university students. Comprehensive research in Malaysia could help educators and students address these misconceptions in Chemistry education.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

EduLearn

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Library & Information Science Social Sciences Other

Description

Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn) ISSN: 2089-9823, e-ISSN 2302-9277 is a multi-disciplinary, peer-refereed open-access international journal which has been established for the dissemination of state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of education, teaching, development, instruction, ...