The logic of hypothesis testing and the control of variables formal schema: Is there a link ?

In this study, the mastery of the hypothesis testing (HT) skill and its relationship with the control‐of‐variables (CV) formal schema are investigated. A paper‐and‐pencil test, consisting of 4 items on the CV and 2 items on the ht, was administered to a sample of 144 high school students (from grades 9 to 13) majoring in science in a region in southern Italy. Students of this sample experienced more difficulties in ht logic than in the CV formal schema. The detailed analysis of the answers given to the ht items indicates that there are a few common ‘wrong’ hypothesis testing strategies. The implications of this for the teaching of science are discussed.