The medicalization of society as a context for promoting the development and use of scientific knowledge related to the human body

Abstract

In this research, a SSI teaching unit based on medicalization of society has been designed and implemented in order to promote the development of scientific knowledge. A total of 399 students (283 aged 16 to 17 and 116 aged 14 to 15) participated. We analyzed: a) students’ prior ideas and their evolution, b) the kind of information used to justify self-medication practices, and, c)the significance of the differences found due to students’ grade. Results show that, at the end of the unit, students’ explanations are closer to the scientific model and, although they usually refer to this knowledge when answering questions in a scientific context, they also emphasize other aspects such as beliefs, personal values and experiences when the context is daily life situations. Finally, educational implications of these results are discussed.