High School Students’ Levels of Relating the Chemistry Knowledge to Daily Life: Acid-Base Example

Abstract

This study aims to determine to what extent high school students are able to associate their knowledge of acid-base concepts with daily life. A form consisting of six open- ended questions was used to collect data in line with the specified purpose. Case study design, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was preferred as a method. Participants of the study consist of a total of 158 Anatolian High School students from 10th and 11th grade classes, 77 males, and 81 females (who ages were 16-17 years old), studying in a medium-sized district in the Central Anatolia Region in Turkey. Student responses obtained from the data collection form were categorized as understanding, partial understanding, misunderstanding, and unanswered. This study determined that the students could not adequately correlate their knowledge about acid-base concepts with the acid-base events they encounter in daily life. Recommendations were made based on the results obtained in the study.