Abstract This qualitative study examines the interactions between individuals, ideas, and
materials as two high and two low performing groups of students engaged in a process of
collaborative scientific argumentation. To engage students in collaborative scientific
argumentation the students were randomly assigned to small groups of three students
each. Each triad was asked to critique six alternative explanations for a discrepant event and
to produce a single written argument justifying the explanation they felt was most valid or
acceptable. The two higher performing triads produced arguments that included a sufficient
and accurate explanation that was well supported with appropriate evidence and reasoning
while the two lower performing triads produced arguments that included an inaccurate
explanation supported by inappropriate justification. A verbal analysis of the interactive
processes that took place within these four triads identified five distinct differences in the
ways these triads engaged in collaborative scientific argumentation that seemed to promote
or constrain the development of high quality written arguments. These differences include
(1) the number of unique ideas introduced into the conversation, (2) how individuals
responded to these ideas, (3) how often individuals challenged ideas when discussing them,
(4) the criteria individuals used to distinguish between ideas, and (5) how group members
used the available corpus of data. The conclusions and implications of this study include
recommendations for the design and revision of curriculum, the development of new
instructional models and technology-enhanced learning environments, and areas for future
research.