Resumen

RODRIGUEZ, María D; MENA, Daniel A  y  RUBIO, Carlos M. Scientific Reasoning and Conceptual Knowledge in Mechanics: A Diagnosis of Freshmen to Undergraduate Engineering. Form. Univ. [online]. 2010, vol.3, n.5, pp. 37-46. ISSN 0718-5006.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-50062010000500006.

This work presents a diagnosis of the extent of scientific reasoning of five groups of freshmen in engineering, through the application of Lawson's classroom test of scientific reasoning. The Forcé Concept Inventory was applied to assess their level of conceptual knowledge in mechanics. The application of Forcé Concept Inventory showed low percentages of correct answers in all subjects, especially those related to Newton's Second Law. Also, the scores of the selection test EXANI-II implemented by the National Center for Higher Education Assessment in México were analyzed. In this case, the scores obtained in the mathematical logic reasoning index and the scores of the physics test were also low.

Palabras clave : Scientific Reasoning; conceptual knowledge; Mechanical; Diagnosis.