The effect of role-play method on formation of image about atom concept in 7th grade student

The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of role play method and traditional instruction on 7th grade students? formation of images about atom concept. The participants of this study consisted of 46 students attending two classrooms of Gaziemir-Yakacık Elementary School in Aksaray in 2005-2006 education year. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test research design was used by assigning the classrooms randomly to experimental and control groups. While control group received traditional instruction, the same topics were instructed thorough the use of role play method in the experimental group by same teacher. Before beginning to practice, both groups were applied a first exam the validity of which was accepted by the experts and a test to define images about atom, the students had defining-images-test again after the apply. The obtained value is evaluated by t-test and ANCOVA analyses through SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) computer program. In the end of analysis it is seen that the role play method is more effective than traditional instruction in teaching atom concept.