Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Reproduction, Genes, and Heredity ~ Item RH045001 ~ Student Performance

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Humans, dogs, and trees are all living things. In which of these organisms would you find DNA molecules?

Only in humans
Only in humans and dogs
In humans, dogs, and trees
DNA molecules are not found in any of these organisms

Pre-Test

Distribution of responses (prior to studying evolution in high school)
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 580	6–8 n = 25	9–12 n = 514	Male n = 254	Female n = 286	English n = 526	Other n = 13
A.	Only in humans	1%	0%	1%	1%	1%	1%	0%
B.	Only in humans and dogs	29%	40%	29%	27%	32%	29%	38%
C.	In humans, dogs, and trees	65%	52%	66%	67%	65%	66%	46%
D.	DNA molecules are not found in any of these organisms	4%	8%	4%	5%	3%	4%	15%

Post-Test (Control)

Distribution of responses (following typical high school instruction on evolution)
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 255	6–8 n = 15	9–12 n = 195	Male n = 97	Female n = 119	English n = 205	Other n = 6
A.	Only in humans	1%	13%	1%	3%	0%	1%	0%
B.	Only in humans and dogs	31%	33%	31%	27%	34%	32%	33%
C.	In humans, dogs, and trees	66%	53%	66%	65%	66%	65%	67%
D.	DNA molecules are not found in any of these organisms	2%	0%	2%	5%	1%	2%	0%

Post-Test (Treatment)

Distribution of responses (following completion of an evolution curriculum module)
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 301	6–8 n = 8	9–12 n = 274	Male n = 134	Female n = 150	English n = 274	Other n = 9
A.	Only in humans	0%	0%	0%	0%	1%	0%	0%
B.	Only in humans and dogs	15%	13%	14%	14%	15%	15%	11%
C.	In humans, dogs, and trees	82%	88%	82%	82%	82%	82%	67%
D.	DNA molecules are not found in any of these organisms	3%	0%	3%	4%	3%	3%	22%