Metaphorical concepts in molecular biology students’ texts – a way to improve subject-matter understanding

Authors

  • Alexandra Fredriksson Lund University
  • Susanne Pelger Lund University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5617/nordina.1593

Keywords:

Popular science communication, Concetual metaphors, Bachelor Students, Comparative Metaphor Analysis

Abstract

Earlier research brings evidence that metaphors facilitate our understanding of the world. In this study we explore Bachelor students’ popular science articles on molecular biology with the aim to determine the frequency and nature of metaphorical concepts used in the articles. For this purpose, a comparative metaphor analysis of students’ texts was conducted. The results show that only few students (5 out of 47) use metaphorical concepts when writing about complex molecular biological mechanisms to non-specialist readers. We discuss that the use of metaphors not only reflect, but may also support, the writer’s subject understanding, especially when metaphorical concepts are created by the writer herself. We suggest that the invention of metaphorical concepts when explaining subject-matter to a layman could be a way for students to improve their subject understanding.

Author Biographies

Alexandra Fredriksson, Lund University

Alexandra Fredriksson is a Bachelor of Science and of Arts, with a double degree in Rhetoric and Molecular biology. This paper was based on her Bachelor thesis.

 

Susanne Pelger, Lund University

Susanne Pelger is associate professor in education science and senior lecturer in science education at the Faculty of Science, Lund University, PhD in Genetics and a teacher of Biology and Mathematics. Her teaching and research deals with communication in natural science higher education: development of students’ writing skills, teaching and super-vision of written and oral communication, and the effects of communication training on subject-matter understanding.

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Published

2016-04-26

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

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