Participants reported feeling slightly more confident
with using investigative approaches immediately
following their ITE than they did after two years of
practice. The dilution of confidence is within the same
range on the Likert scale, but is less aggregated at the
higher confident levels (see Table 6).
All types of investigation were reported as being
used more often after two years of practice, except
pattern seeking investigations which declined, and
developing systems which remained low (see Table 7).
In response to being asked what factors influenced
their choice of strategies, participants reported their
own content knowledge and experience of using the
strategies in their ITE or subsequent teaching as most
helpful, especially at the beginning of their career.
Available time was identified as the greatest limiting
factor when deciding the choice of investigative
strategies. By 2008 fewer participants found student
behaviour a hindrance, recourses and equipment had
become important limiting factors and time had become
a bigger hindrance, together with student behaviour (see
Table 8).