Identifying alternative conceptions about evolution in portuguese high-school students : a reflection based on new and published data

Abstract

Research about teaching and understanding of evolution focusing on the alternative conceptions held by students identified problems related to the understanding or even acceptance of evolution. This work analysed texts about evolution written by Portuguese students and identified alternative conceptions in 89. 06% of them; 57. 81% of the texts had more than one alternative conception. The alternative conceptions identified in Portuguese students reinforce the probable link between the development and persistence of such conceptions and absence of an evolutionary framework until later years in school. The results obtained in this analysis contribute to the growing body of research claiming for an early introduction of evolution in school curricula.