Background/Purpose - Naïve theories represent the explanations students use to describe a particular phenomenon within a domain based on their prior knowledge. They are the knowledge base from where students build new knowledge. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine third grade students naïve theory of heart function during exercise.
Method - Forty-five third grade students were interviewed to ascertain their understanding of heart function during exercise. Interviews were analyzed using open- and axial- coding to identify emerging categories and themes.
Analysis/Results - Data revealed that third grade students' understanding of heart function during exercise is related to the function of pumping blood to the body. Students expressed a naïve theory in which, during exercise, heart create new blood and give energy to the body by pumping. For example, when students were asked, “What happens when your heart beats fast,” one third grader replied, “You get new blood in your heart”. When we asked “What does it mean when your heart is beating faster, what is it doing?”, the student answered, “It gets new blood and its giving your body a new life or air and blood”.
Conclusions - This study demonstrated that students understand phenomena through a naïve theory based on prior experience and knowledge. Data were discussed in relation to the impact of naïve theory on student learning in physical education, the gradual knowledge growth and, the metaphor of the octopus race to describe students' naïve theory about heart function during exercise.
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