UNCOVERING LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ APPROACHES DURING BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATION

Filip Hašpl; Karel Vojíř

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UNCOVERING LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ APPROACHES DURING BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATION

Title	UNCOVERING LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ APPROACHES DURING BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATION
Publication Type	Journal Article
Year of Publication	2026
Authors	Hašpl, F, Vojíř, K
Journal	Journal of Baltic Science Education
Volume	25
Issue	5
Start Page	855-869
Pagination	Continuous
Date Published	October / 2026
Type of Article	Original article
ISSN	1648-3898
Other Numbers	E-ISSN 2538-7138
Keywords	eye-tracking, science process skills, scientific observation, secondary education, visual literacy
Abstract	Biological observation requires students to distinguish task-relevant morphological features from irrelevant visual information. However, little is known about how lower-secondary school students allocate attention while solving image-based biological tasks. This study examined observational approaches using eye-tracking. Seventy-five students completed 18 feature-identification tasks across fauna, flora, and microscopic life. Hierarchical cluster analysis of standardised eye-tracking metrics, supplemented by qualitative inspection of scan paths, identified four observational approaches: Quick Targeting (54.1%), Diagnostic Scanning (27.2%), Instruction-Guided Search (10.2%), and A Thorough Wander (8.5%). More than 72% of students showed one dominant approach across most tasks. Observational approach was associated with task performance, although the association was small (χ² = 29.00, df = 18, p = .048, Cramér’s V = .085). Diagnostic Scanning and Quick Targeting showed the highest mean scores (5.54 and 5.52 out of 6), whereas A Thorough Wander and Instruction-Guided Search showed lower scores (5.28 and 5.21). Longer viewing was not associated with better performance. Higher task performance was instead associated with attention to task-relevant morphological features. These findings support explicit visual guidance and systematic comparison of diagnostic features in image-based biology observation tasks.
DOI	10.33225/jbse/26.25.855
Refereed Designation	Refereed
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