Folkbiology meets microbiology: a study of conceptual and behavioral change.
Health education can offer a valuable window onto conceptual and behavioral change. In Study 1, we mapped out 3rd-grade Chinese children's beliefs about causes of colds and flu and ways they can be prevented. We also explored older adults' beliefs as a possible source of the children's ideas. In Study 2, we gave 3rd- and 4th-grade Chinese children either a conventional cold/flu education program or an experimental "Think Biology" program that focused on a biological causal mechanism for cold/flu transmission. The "Think Biology" program led children to reason about cold/flu causation and prevention more scientifically than the conventional program, and their reasoning abilities dovetailed with their mastery of the causal mechanism. Study 3, a modified replication of Study 2, found useful behavioral change as well as conceptual change among children who received the "Think Biology" program and documented coherence among knowledge enrichment, conceptual change, and behavioral change.
Au
Terry Kit-fong
TK
Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. terryau@hku.hk
Chan
Carol K K
CK
Chan
Tsz-Kit
TK
Cheung
Mike W L
MW
Ho
Johnson Y S
JY
Ip
Grace W M
GW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003210:Concept Formation; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005495:Folklore; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged