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Contributed by: Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS)
This task was produced by TIMSS and was administered to students
in 1994-1995.
In general, this was a difficult task for fourth graders. Although
most students in most countries were able to use a laboratory thermometer,
in many cases, the data gathered were incomplete or contained small
inaccuracies in measurement. Students did reasonably well in identifying
the container that keep water hottest, but almost none could explain
insulating capacity in terms of the materials from which the containers
were made.
An interesting misconception appeared when students were asked
to apply their findings to a different situation - that of keeping
ice cream cold. While 15% of students internationally recognized
that the container that was best for keeping a hot drink warm would
also be best for keeping ice cream cold, almost none could explain
why. About one-quarter of the students seemed to see the ice cream
as an opposite case, explaining that the container in which the
temperature of a hot drink declined most rapidly would be the one
to keep ice cream cold the longest.
Unit Name: Containers
Unit Content: Physical Science
Unit Theme: Properties of Materials
Unit Statistics:
Containers Task: Average Percentage Score on Item 1 -
Fourth Grade
| Country |
Overall Task Average |
Average Percentage Score on Item |
Item 1
Meaasure Temperatures and Record in Table |
| Ability to Use Thermometer |
Quality of Data Gathering |
| 1 point |
3 points |
| Cyprus |
42 (1.3) |
- - |
82 (3.8) |
| Canada |
40 (1.1) |
94 (2.1) |
69 (2.8) |
| New Zealand |
33 (1.4) |
95 (1.8) |
38 (3.3) |
| Iran, Islamic Rep. |
30 (3.5) |
63 (7.6) |
49 (5.3) |
| Portugal |
26 (1.9) |
78 (5.5) |
31 (4.7) |
| Countries not satisfying guidelines for sample
participation rates |
| Australia |
39 (0.8) |
93 (2.8) |
57 (3.9) |
| Hong Kong |
41 (1.3) |
99 (0.6) |
58 (2.9) |
| United States |
40 (1.1) |
98 (0.7) |
64 (3.1) |
| Countries not meeting age/grade specifications |
| Slovenia |
38 (1.3) |
100 (0.0) |
54 (4.0) |
| International Average |
|
37 (0.6) |
91 (1.1) |
56 (1.3) |
Containers Task: Average Percentage Score on Items 2 and
3 - Fourth Grade
| Country |
Overall Task Average |
Average Percentage Score on Items |
Item 2
Identify Best Insulator |
Item 3
Explain Best Insulator |
| 2 points |
2 points |
| Cyprus |
42 (1.3) |
60 (4.5) |
6 (1.5) |
| Canada |
40 (1.1) |
56 (2.7) |
7 (1.1) |
| New Zealand |
33 (1.4) |
50 (4.4) |
3 (0.8) |
| Iran, Islamic Rep. |
30 (3.5) |
39 (5.3) |
9 (1.8) |
| Portugal |
26 (1.9) |
33 (5.0) |
3 (1.3) |
| Countries not satisfying guidelines for sample
participation rates |
| Australia |
39 (0.8) |
65 (2.5) |
5 (1.4) |
| Hong Kong |
41 (1.3) |
56 (3.8) |
11 (2.8) |
| United States |
40 (1.1) |
32 (3.5) |
8 (1.2) |
| Countries not meeting age/grade specifications |
| Slovenia |
38 (1.3) |
45 (3.2) |
4 (1.5) |
| International Average |
|
37 (0.6) |
48 (1.3) |
6 (0.5) |
Containers Task: Average Percentage Score on Items 4 and
5 - Fourth Grade
| Country |
Overall Task Average |
Average Percentage Score on Items |
Item 4
Apply to Ice Cream |
Item 5
Explain Application |
| 1 point |
2 points |
| Cyprus |
42 (1.3) |
4 (1.9) |
1 (0.6) |
| Canada |
40 (1.1) |
14 (2.4) |
3 (0.8) |
| New Zealand |
33 (1.4) |
10 (1.9) |
1 (0.6) |
| Iran, Islamic Rep. |
30 (3.5) |
17 (4.2) |
2 (1.4) |
| Portugal |
26 (1.9) |
11 (2.3) |
2 (1.0) |
| Countries not satisfying guidelines for sample
participation rates |
| Australia |
39 (0.8) |
14 (2.7) |
3 (0.9) |
| Hong Kong |
41 (1.3) |
18 (3.0) |
5 (1.2) |
| United States |
40 (1.1) |
31 (3.5) |
4 (1.0) |
| Countries not meeting age/grade specifications |
| Slovenia |
38 (1.3) |
18 (3.1) |
7 (1.5) |
| International Average |
|
37 (0.6) |
15 (1.0) |
3 (0.3) |
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