| Abstract: | Conclusion The aims of this study were to replicate existing target student research and to investigate the possible contribution student
perceptions of their classroom environment could add to existing research findings. Although target students of the types
previously identified were found to exist, and found in similar numbers, there the similarity with previous findings ceased.
They were not dominantly male and there was a cross-gender relationship with the teacher. The inclusion of student perceptions
of their classroom environment did add to the personal characteristics in helping to describe target students. However, their
characteristics were not consistent across classes, and although a rationale could be developed to explain the existence of
the different types of target students in classrooms, these explanations were idiosyncratic to particular classrooms. The
findings in this study would suggest caution in making generalizations about the characteristics of, and rationales for, target
students in Year 8 science classrooms. |
