Vive la Différence? Comparing “Like with Like” in Studies of Learners’ Ideas in Diverse Educational Contexts

Table 1

Conditions for expecting different frequencies of common conceptions among students in distinct populations.

	Educational context not a significant factor in evolution of particular conception	Educational context significant in evolution of particular conception
Two educational contexts similar in terms of relevant contextual factors	Incidence of conception likely to be similar among populations studying in the different contexts	Incidence of conception likely to be similar among populations studying in the different contexts
Two educational contexts dissimilar in terms of relevant contextual factors	Incidence of conception likely to be similar among populations studying in the different contexts	Incidence of conception likely to be different among populations studying in the different contexts