Fostering epistemic practices in science

About the Project

This project focuses on developing students’ engagement in epistemic practices in science.

Have you always felt that learning of science should go beyond learning the “tested and proven” concepts, laws, or theories in science? That it is equally important for students to engage with the epistemic and social goals of science education i.e., to engage in the ways of thinking and doing in science that resemble how scientific communities pursue the scientific endeavour? If so, then this project might resonate with you.

As a PhD student, you may focus on any epistemic practice(s) or ways of thinking and doing in science (e.g., asking questions, planning and carrying out investigations, analysing and interpreting data, reasoning and argumentation, constructing explanations and modelling) for any group of learners. Two current projects that I am working on include: (i) constructing and validating a scientific practices survey instrument for middle school students and (ii) constructing Claim-REAson TEst (CREATE) items for fostering scientific reasoning and argumentation. While my two current projects focus on assessment, you may choose to focus on developing learning environments for learners and/or pedagogy/teacher education/professional development. I encourage you to propose your own area of interest within the scope of epistemic practices in science. Together, we will help you consider various research designs that would best answer your research questions and make contribution to the existing scholarship.

Important Note

We welcome you to have a conversation with Assistant Professor Ong Yan Shiou (yannshiou.ong@nie.edu.sg) to discuss this PhD project further. You are strongly encouraged to reach out to her at least 3 months in advance of application deadline (i.e. 25 June 2026) as the process of confirming the supervision and preparing your proposal for application may take longer than you anticipate.

When you email Assistant Professor Ong Yan Shiou, please:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Share about your academic background
3. Provide information on your research interests and how it is aligned with this project
4. And how you hope to achieve your PhD aspirations

We regret to inform you that only suitable PhD candidates for this project will be shortlisted for further consideration.

Minimum Entry Requirement

A Bachelor's degree with honours at least at Second Class Upper level, Master's degree in the relevant areas and the ability to pursue research in the candidate's proposed field of advanced study.

Shortlisted applicants will undergo an interview session as part of the selection process.

A valid GRE score is required for applicants who are not graduates of the Autonomous Universities in Singapore. See detailed requirements for English language on competency and GRE requirements  here.

Funding Notes

Prestigious scholarships offered by the Nanyang Technological University allows outstanding PhD students to pursue their research endeavours at a world-class university. At NTU, we recognize academic excellence and research potential that will help you focus on making groundbreaking discoveries in your field.

For Scholarships and Awards:

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References

Ong, Y,S,, Lee, Y.-J., Liau, L. G. S., & Tan X. K. (2024). Development of a scientific practices survey for middle school students. Sardag M, Kaya G., Sogut, M. (Eds.) (2024). Proceedings Book Series–1 of the ESERA 2023 Conference. Connecting Science Education with Cultural Heritage, Strand 14 (co-ed. Dolin, J., & Rokos, L.), (pp. 384-391). Cappadocia, Türkiye. Nobel Bilimsel Eserler.
Ong, Y. S., Duschl, R. A., & Plummer, J. D. (2020). Scientific argumentation as an epistemic practice: Secondary students’ critique of science research posters. In Teo, T. W., Tan, A. L., & Ong, Y. S. (Eds.), Science Education in the 21st Century (pp. 81-93). Singapore: Springer Singapore.