Effect of concept maps and laboratory experiments on overcoming 7th grade students’ misconceptions about classification and changes of matters

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether concept maps and laboratory experiments are effective methods in academic achievement and overcoming 7th grade students’ misconceptions about matter. control and experimental groups were randomly selected. one of the treatment groups was instructed by concept maps method while the other treatment group was instructed by laboratory experiments method. student conceptual understandings were determined by administrating ‘concept test’ containing 5 open-ended questions. this instrument was given to groups as pre-test and post-test. anova results showed that post-test mean scores of experimental groups which were taught with laboratory experiments method and concept map method were significantly higher than those of control group (p<0,01). in addition, the results of post-test analysis of concept test showed that laboratory experiment was more effective than traditional method and concept maps in overcoming students’ misconceptions.