Undergraduate students’ mental models of hailstone formation

The objective of this research is to investigate students’ mental models of the hailstone
formation and explore factors that may affect their mental models. The sample chosen for
the study was composed of a total of 84 students. The students attended the 1st to 4 th grade
classes of the Social Studies Teaching Programme at Giresun University in Turkey. The
data in relation to the students’ mental models of hailstone formation were collected from
the administration of a structured interview consisting of open-ended questions. The
students’ responses were scrutinised and categorised to gather similar mental models into a
group. The choice of categories was based on the students’ responses. Four groups mental
models have been determined, one is scientifically acceptable and the others scientifically
unacceptable. The prevalence of scientifically unacceptable mental models was attributed to
the students' lack of pre-knowledge of hailstone formation. Considering the results of the
study, recommendations for the teaching of hailstone formation have been made to
teachers, textbook authors and programme developers.