Preservice Biology Teachers’ Scientific Reasoning Skills and Beliefs about Nature of Science: How Do They Develop and Is There a Mutual Relationship during the Development?

Scientific reasoning (SR) skills and nature of science (NOS) beliefs represent important characteristics of biology teachers’ professional competence. In particular, teacher education at university is formative for the professionalization of future teachers and is thus the focus of the current study. Our study aimed to examine the development of SR skills and NOS beliefs and their mutual relationship during teacher education. We applied paper-and-pencil tests to measure SR skills and NOS beliefs of 299 preservice biology teachers from 25 universities in Germany. The results of linear mixed models and planned comparisons revealed that both SR skills and NOS beliefs develop over the course of the study. Nevertheless, the development of SR skills and multiple aspects of NOS beliefs proceeds in different trajectories. Cross-lagged models showed a complex picture concerning the mutual relationship between SR skills and NOS beliefs during their development (both positive and negative). The current study contributes to the existing research because it is based on longitudinal data and allows—in contrast to cross-sectional research—conclusions about the development of SR skills and NOS beliefs.

Research on Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Poly(m-Phenyleneisophthalamide) Paper

The dynamic mechanical properties of PMIA-Pulp applied paper were investigated. At the same time, the dynamic mechanical properties of DuPont T410 paper were compared. Measurements of the dynamic mechanical properties were carried out on samples of low crystallinity and low orientation over a temperature range from 20°C to +500°C, at a frequency of 110 Hz, at a heating rate of 3°C/min. As the temperature from low to high, three different mechanical states with glassy state, rubber state and fluid state were appeared on DMA temperature curve, it responded the different mode of molecular motion. Storage modulus and glass transition peak of DuPont T410 paper were higher than the self-made applied paper. It means DuPont T410 Paper had a high resistance to external forces and deformation, as well as a good rigidity. Molecular chain freedom movement was difficult and the energy required to move relatively larger.