THE USE OF VISUALIZATION IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION PROCESS: THE METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING INSTRUMENT

Researches in visualization area are very popular in education studies. There were found out that visualization is useful in education as stimulating tool for perception, attention, memory and imagination processes. To explore this in reality, we need to have valid instrument which could prove statistically valid data about visualization use in education. The author of this article did not find the questionnaire which could involve mentioned things. According to this, there were made several pilot researches and statistical counts that proved the quality of constructed instrument. The aim of this article is to prepare and to test instrument (the questionnaire) for 9-10 grade students' opinion about visualization use fostering cognitive, learning processes and motivation in scientific, geography and mathematics lessons. Results. To reach the aim there were done pilot and diagnostic researches. There were participated 209 students in pilot research and 2708 students in diagnostic research. Results of pilot research enclosed categories and subcategories, which were compared to categories that were found in analysis of literature. Also, there was found out students' meta-language, words, that enclose scientific definitions or analogues. According to results, questions were transformed in language that was common to research population aiming to get answers that are representing reality in education environment. The instrument was prepared to measure object in science education, also, it was adapted to measure object in mathematics and geography. There was tested content validity asking experts to evaluate whether each questions belongs to appropriate category. The results of evaluation were high and this leads to conclusion that instrument is valid in content aspects. Also, there was tested internal validity of instrument. Each scale of questionnaire has high Cronbach alfa coefficient and the whole instrument is also evaluated highly. The instrument is valid and it measures 9-10 grade students' opinion about visualization use fostering cognitive, learning processes and motivation in scientific, geography and mathematics lessons.