Thai Students’ Decision Making in Societal Issue of Surface Area and Concentrated Solutions as a Factor in the Rate of Chemical Reactions

Abstract

This research is aimed at clarifying how Thai students' make decisions as regards societal issues of surface area and concentrated solutions as a factor in the rate of chemical reactions. The STS unit of rate of chemical reactions had been taught to 35 Grade 11 students for four weeks in Ban Haed District of Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The unit consists of four subunits: (i) surface area and concentrated solutions, (ii) catalysts, (iii) temperature, and (iv) inhibiter. This submission is made up of only one sub-unit, surface area and concentrated solutions. Methodology has to do with interpretive paradigm. Tools of interpretation includes i) participant observation ii) individual and group, and informal interview, iii) journal writing or personal summary, and iv) students' tasks. Students' responds, dialogues, ideas, or conversations which are being categorized in to constructed patterns in order to explain to students' the common themes of the normative decision making model. The finding revealed that students could develop the model of decision making. Their model could be classified in to six steps: i) options ii) criteria iii) classification of information in to each criterioniv) Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative, v) choice analysis, and vi) selection of the best alternative. It indicated that students could apply the relationship between science, technology and society into their decision making process. This submission also has as a rationale, to enhance students' scientific literacy.