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Modeling the Transition from a Phenotypic to Genotypic Conceptualization of Genetics in a University-Level Introductory Biology Context

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Abstract

Identifying contingencies between constructs in a multi-faceted learning progression (LP) is a challenging task. Often, there is not enough evidence in the literature to support connections, and once identified, they are difficult to empirically test. Here, we use causal model search to evaluate how connections between ideas in a genetics LP change over time in the context of an introductory biology course. We identify primary and secondary hub ideas and connections between concepts before and after instruction to illustrate how students moved from a phenotypic grounding of genetics knowledge to a more genotypic grounding of their genetics knowledge after instruction. We discuss our results in light of conceptual change and illustrate the importance of understanding students’ idea structures within a domain.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Center for Causal Discovery, supported by grant U54HG008540, for providing open access to its software TETRAD and for methodological assistance. We would like to thank Gretchen Haas for valuable feedback on this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Medical Education, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA

    Amber Todd

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA

    William L. Romine

  3. Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, San Juan, 00931, Puerto Rico

    Josefina Correa-Menendez

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  1. Amber Todd
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  2. William L. Romine
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Correspondence to Amber Todd.

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Due to Romine’s effort with the revisions, we would like to propose a new authorship order: Todd, Romine, and Correa-Menendez, with a clause that Todd and Romine contributed equally to the work.

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Todd, A., Romine, W.L. & Correa-Menendez, J. Modeling the Transition from a Phenotypic to Genotypic Conceptualization of Genetics in a University-Level Introductory Biology Context. Res Sci Educ 49, 569–589 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-017-9626-2

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