Children's choices of uses of energy

Abstract
Girls'' (13 yr old) ideas about whether or not energy is needed or used in certain situations were studied through a selection of pictures, and through written explanations of the choices. The pattern of selection suggests that animacy is a salient feature, but lends little support to the importance of motion or activity. However the children''s explanations do make use of activity, and focus also on sources of energy. The results are discussed in terms of frameworks given by Watts (1983). It is suggested that the data is difficult to interpret in terms of some frameworks, and that the frameworks ought to be seen in a developmental perspective.

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