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David F. Treagust

David F. Treagust

Award Badge
Social Sciences and Humanities
Australia
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Social Sciences and Humanities

D-Index
92
Citations
32753
World Ranking
160
National Ranking
10

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Social Sciences and Humanities in Australia Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Social Sciences and Humanities in Australia Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Social Sciences and Humanities in Australia Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Social Sciences and Humanities in Australia Leader Award
  • 2010 - Fellow of the American Educational Research Association

Overview

David F. Treagust is affiliated with Curtin University in Australia and has a research focus predominantly in social sciences and psychology, with particular emphasis on education and developmental psychology. Their work primarily explores science education and pedagogy alongside educational strategies and epistemologies.

The main fields of study covered in Treagust's publications include:

  • Social Sciences
  • Psychology

Their subfields of study further narrow to:

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Human-Computer Interaction

Treagust's principal research topics are summarized as follows:

  • Science Education and Pedagogy
  • Educational Strategies and Epistemologies
  • Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
  • Education and Critical Thinking Development
  • Innovative Teaching Methods
  • Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
  • Animal and Plant Science Education

The scientist has contributed frequently to several academic journals, including:

  • International Journal of Science Education
  • Research in Science Education
  • Chemistry Education Research and Practice
  • Physics Education
  • arXiv (Cornell University)

Recent noteworthy papers authored under Treagust's involvement include:

  • Immersive virtual reality for science learning: Design, implementation, and evaluation (2022) in Studies in Science Education
  • Diverse approaches to learning with immersive Virtual Reality identified from a systematic review (2022) in Computers & Education
  • A sustained multidimensional conceptual change intervention in grade 9 and 10 science classes (2020) in International Journal of Science Education
  • Sequential patterns of students' drawing in constructing scientific explanations: focusing on the interplay among three levels of pictorial representation (2020) in International Journal of Science Education
  • High School and Preservice Chemistry Teacher Education Students' Understanding of Voltaic and Electrolytic Cell Concepts: Evidence of Consistent Learning Difficulties Across Years (2021) in International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education

Frequent co-authors collaborating with Treagust include:

  • Mihye Won
  • Mauro Mocerino
  • D. G. Blair
  • Roy Tasker
  • Marjan Zadnik

The scientist was recognized as a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association in 2010.

Best Publications

  • Conceptual Change: A Powerful Framework for Improving Science Teaching and Learning

    Reinders Duit;David F. Treagust

  • Development and use of diagnostic tests to evaluate students’ misconceptions in science

    David F. Treagust

  • Inquiry in science education: International perspectives

    Fouad Abd-El-Khalick;Saouma Boujaoude;Richard Duschl;Norman G. Lederman

  • A typology of school science models

    Allan G. Harrison;David F. Treagust

  • Learning in Science — From Behaviourism Towards Social Constructivism and Beyond

    Reinders Duit;David F. Treagust

  • Secondary students' mental models of atoms and molecules: Implications for teaching chemistry

    Allan G. Harrison;David F. Treagust

  • The role of submicroscopic and symbolic representations in chemical explanations

    David F. Treagust;Gail Chittleborough;Thapelo L. Mamiala

  • Learning about atoms, molecules, and chemical bonds: A case study of multiple-model use in grade 11 chemistry

    Allan G. Harrison;David F. Treagust

  • Students' understanding of the role of scientific models in learning science

    David F. Treagust;Gail Chittleborough;Thapelo L. Mamiala

  • Multiple Representations in Chemical Education

    John K. Gilbert;David Treagust

  • Current Realities and Future Possibilities: Language and science literacy—empowering research and informing instruction

    Larry D. Yore;David F. Treagust

  • Diagnosing secondary students' misconceptions of photosynthesis and respiration in plants using a two-tier multiple choice instrument

    Filocha Haslam;David F. Treagust

  • Conceptual change: a discussion of theoretical, methodological and practical challenges for science education

    David F. Treagust;Reinders Duit

  • A multidimensional framework for interpreting conceptual change events in the classroom

    Louise M. Tyson;Grady J. Venville;Allan G. Harrison;David F. Treagust

  • Teaching with analogies: A case study in grade-10 optics

    Allan G. Harrison;David F. Treagust

  • Validity and use of an instrument for assessing classroom psychosocial environment in higher education

    Barry J. Fraser;David F. Treagust

  • Development and Application of a Diagnostic Instrument to Evaluate Grade-11 and -12 Students' Concepts of Covalent Bonding and Structure Following a Course of Instruction.

    Raymond F. Peterson;David F. Treagust;Patrick Garnett

  • Conceptual difficulties experienced by senior high school students of electrochemistry: Electric circuits and oxidation‐reduction equations

    Pamela J. Garnett;David F. Treagust

  • Chemical education: towards research-based practice

    J.H. van Driel;J.K. Gilbert;O. de Jong;R. Justi

  • Investigating a grade 11 student's evolving conceptions of heat and temperature

    Allan G. Harrison;Diane J. Grayson;David F. Treagust

Frequent Co-Authors

Grady Venville
Grady Venville University of Western Australia
Richard K. Coll
Richard K. Coll University of Waikato
Brian Hand
Brian Hand University of Iowa
Barry J. Fraser
Barry J. Fraser Curtin University
John K. Gilbert
John K. Gilbert University of Reading
Larry D. Yore
Larry D. Yore University of Victoria
Léonie J. Rennie
Léonie J. Rennie Curtin University
Richard A. Duschl
Richard A. Duschl Pennsylvania State University
Jan H. van Driel
Jan H. van Driel University of Melbourne
Susan R. Goldman
Susan R. Goldman University of Illinois at Chicago

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