TABLE 2.
Qualitative analysis codebook for the class topic Aerobic respiration along with percentages (n = 70) of student responses in each code
| Code | Description of code (student writes about/a…) |
Example student response | Percentage of responseb |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution (EVO) | ||||
| Evolved after photosynthesis | how aerobic respiration came after photosynthesis | “evolved from the process of photosynthesis, to make use of the oxygen that is being released” | 13% | aOther 41%; Blank 3% |
| Endosymbiotic theory | how eukaryotes obtained mitochondria after engulfing prokaryotes | “most […] evolved from prokaryotic cells that combined with other cells to create the double plasma membrane” | 43% | |
| Structure and Function (SF) | ||||
| List of steps/elements | list of the input and output of respiration | “need oxygen, H2O and CO2 to make ATP” | 20% | Other 38%; Blank 2% |
| Mitochondria structure/function | the characteristics of mitochondria and/or their function | “…small surface area to vol ratios allowed for simple diffusion” | 40% | |
| Information Flow, Exchange and Storage (IFES) | ||||
| Communication between proteins | chemical signaling between proteins/enzymes | “communication with the aid of enzymes” | 10% | Other 42%; Blank 2% |
| List of steps/phases | list of several phases of respiration | “glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electrochemical gradient…[]” | 17% | |
| Redox reactions | NADH/FADH molecules | “Protein channels and NADH/FADH carriers take electrons to electron transport chain” | 29% | |
| Pathways of Transformation of Energy and Matter (PTEM) | ||||
| Big picture of respiration | food breakdown to produce ATP | “The cell breaks down food in the mitochondria in a long, multistep process that produces 36 ATPs” | 22% | Other 8%; Blank 0% |
| List of phases/elements | list of several phases or cellular elements participating in respiration | “glycose to ATP is glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain | 23% | |
| ATP production | ATP being a product of respiration | “energy is being used and produced in all production of ATP” | 28% | |
| Both codes [List of phases/elements] and [ATP production] | “Pathway is the electron transport chain which produces ATP for every glucose molecule” | 19% | ||
| Systems (SYS) | ||||
| List of elements/structures participating in respiration | list of mitochondrial or cellular structures that facilitate respiration | “matrix, cristae, intermembrane space, plasma membrane” | 13% | Other 21%; Blank 3% |
| List of steps/phases of respiration | list of several phases ofrespiration | “glycolysis, electron transport chain, Krebs cycle” | 63% | |
a
The code “Other” indicates incomplete or irrelevant responses to the specific CC and topic.
b
Boldface text indicates the highest percentage of student responses in each CC.