Again, it is also important to note that these results go beyond previous research in
relation to two possible matters. First, it was found that students who constructed stronger
counterarguments also showed more informed NOS views. However, this study did not
involve teaching students to construct counterarguments and is therefore different from some
other studies (e.g., Berland & McNeill, 2010; Sandoval & Milwood, 2008) that involved a
teaching sequence or argumentation intervention. Second, this study used the same instrument
(context) to assess students’ NOS understandings and their argumentation skills. Students’
argumentation skills and their NOS or epistemological understandings may vary depending
on the content/context within which these views are assessed.