The range of information in Biology: III. Botany

Investigated the amount of botanical knowledge students carry with them into the high school with a view to effective teaching of high school botany. A range of information test consisting of 100 test words was prepared, such that the words were in fairly common use and a knowledge of which would indicate some familiarity with biological principles. 183 Ss were tested, where 97 were first term students and 86 were second term students (101 boys and 82 girls). Results indicated that high school botany, as a subject, had the best basis upon which to build other biological subjects. A slight superiority in girls of range of information in nature studies was found. Emphasizes the inclusion of more elementary botany in the course in nature study.