A developmental research on the study of the concept of microorganism in different levels of learning

The aim of this study was to determine the students' level of understanding of microorganism concept and to determine the current misconceptions of elementary, middle, high school and university students. The sample of the research a randomly selected primary school (n=30), a secondary school (n=30), a high school (n=30) and Bayburt University final year students (n=30) In Bayburt. In the research, developmental research method (latitude) was used. The data were collected by the Conceptual Understanding Test (CAT) and semi-structured interview developed by the researcher. With the Conceptual Understanding Test, students' knowledge levels and misconceptions related to microorganisms were determined. In addition, semi-structured interview was used to learn the students' feelings and thoughts about this concept. Findings from the tests and interviews show that the understandings related to the microorganism and microorganism concept are in different categories. It is concluded that the concept of microorganism is not understood by the students at different levels of education. In fact, misconceptions were encountered in all levels of education related to the concept of microorganism and microorganism.