Students’ Conception on Heat and Temperature: A Study on Two Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana

This study investigated the conceptions of students on heat and temperature. The target population was all Senior High School (SHS) students in the Central Region and the accessible population were SHS students in the Efutu Municipality and Agona District in the region. A descriptive survey was employed. The sample for the study was second year students’ from Winneba Senior High and Swedru Senior High schools. A simple random technique was used to select two hundred (200) students. Questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect data for the study. The results indicated that most students have the right conception about heat. Students’ conceptions of temperature is only partially correct since few of the students gave a positive response that, a solid ball and a hollow ball made of the same material and temperature is increased by the same amount, and  the two balls will have the same energy. More males have a right conception of heat and temperature than the females. More science students have the right conceptions of heat and temperature than the non-science students. Most of the non-science students do not have a right conception about heat and temperature. The study recommended that programmes should be organized to assess the teachers’ needs since they may have different understanding of some concepts which can influence their instructional strategies.