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Each phenomenon in our world can be seen and understood in only a limited number of distinctively different ways. A research method called phenomenography was developed at Gothenburg University to study human understanding of specific phenomena. Understanding is defined as the experiential relations between an individual and a phenomenon. Changes in a person's understanding constitute the most important form of human learning. To determine the effectiveness of particular teaching methods, it is necessary to specify the kind of learning and understanding a teaching method is designed to bring about. In order to develop teaching methods that help students arrive at new understandings of a given phenomenon, we must first discover the finite ways individuals may understand that phenomenon. Then, through experimentation, we may discover the most effective ways to bring students from a given conception to another, more advanced one, that is, from “misunderstanding” to understanding. Consequently, teaching methods must be characterized and developed in relation to each phenomenon that is taught.
Ference Marton (Wed,) studied this question.