HIROSHI UNZAI

Last Updated :2025/11/28

Affiliations, Positions
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor
E-mail
unzaihiroshima-u.ac.jp

Basic Information

Major Professional Backgrounds

  • 2025/04/01, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor
  • 2022/04, 2025/03, Tokai University, Lecturer
  • 2017/04, 2022/03, Nippon Sport Science University, Graduate School, Assistant Professor
  • 2016/04, 2017/03, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC)

Educational Backgrounds

  • Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Education, Japan, 2014/04, 2017/03
  • Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Education, Japan, 2012/04, 2014/03
  • Hiroshima University, School of Education, Japan, 2008/04, 2012/03

Academic Degrees

  • Hiroshima University
  • Hiroshima University

Research Keywords

  • modeling
  • educational evaluation
  • critical thinking
  • need for cognition
  • meta cognition
  • scientific reasoning
  • science education

Affiliated Academic Societies

  • Japanese Association for the Advancement of Science, 2022/04
  • JAPAN SOCIETY FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION, 2013/05
  • JAPAN CURRICULUM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, 2012/05
  • SOCIETY OF JAPAN SCIENCE TEACHING, 2012/04

Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Intensive, Practical Approach to SDGs
  2. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Teaching Method of Science for the Elementary School
  3. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Teaching Method of Science for the Elementary School
  4. 2025, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Curriculum Development for the Elementary School
  5. 2025, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Introduction to Theories of Science for the Elementary School
  6. 2025, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Research Methods in Elementary School Curriculum I
  7. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Research Methods in Elementary School Curriculum II
  8. 2025, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Curriculum and Teaching
  9. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Year, Curriculum and Research
  10. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Graduation Thesis
  11. 2025, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Content of Pre-school Education (Environment)
  12. 2025, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Practical Seminar for the Teaching Profession
  13. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Lesson Development and practice of Subject Cross-cutting ability development
  14. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Lesson Development for Teaching Based on Universal Mind
  15. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 3Term, Lesson Development of Global Mind
  16. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Theory and Practice of Advanced Lesson Study
  17. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Lesson Development and Evaluation (Fundamentals)
  18. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Lesson Development and Evaluation (Application)
  19. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Lesson Development and Evaluation (Expansion)
  20. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Lesson Development and Evaluation (Development)
  21. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Action Research Seminar on Teaching Practice I
  22. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Action Research Seminar on Teaching Practice II
  23. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Action Research Seminar on Teaching Practice III
  24. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Action Research Seminar on Teaching Practice IV
  25. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Action Research Practicum in Teaching Practice I
  26. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Action Research Practicum in Teaching Practice II
  27. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Action Research Practicum in Teaching Practice III
  28. 2025, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Action Research Practicum in Teaching Practice IV

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Classroom Practice using 3DCG Dinosaur Skeleton Teaching Materials and Exploratory Evaluation of Teaching Material Features using Text Analysis, Journal of Science Education in Japan, 49(4), 202512
  2. Research on Instructional Strategies for Fostering Intellectual Humility in Lower Secondary School Science: Focus on Modeling in Biology, Journal of Research in Science Education, 66(1), 77-88, 20250731
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  3. A Case Study on Teaching Elementary School Science to Deepen Students' Understanding of Metamodeling Knowledge in the Fourth Grade Unit on the Relationship between Temperature and the Volume of Objects, 66(1), 53-65, 20250731
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  4. Three Divides in Curriculum Research and Development: Through an Interview with Shigeki Kadoya, 47(4), 57-64, 202503
  5. Transformation of Science Educational Researchers by Learning Unfamiliar Research Methodologies, 48(4), 365-380, 202412
  6. New Research Endeavors in Science Education Based on Online Communities: Dialogues and Collaborative Research by Early Career Researchers, 48(2), 147-156, 202407
  7. How to Improve Intellectual Humility in Elementary Science: Focus on Modeling in Biology, 48(2), 72-86, 202407
  8. Research Trends in Themes and Methods of the Journal of Science Education in Japan in 1977–2020, 47(4), 423-438, 202312
  9. Intellectual Humility Scale in Elementary Science Education, 47(4), 411-422, 202312
  10. A Systematic Review of Methods and Characteristics of Assessing Understanding of the Nature of Science, Journal of Science Education in Japan, 47(2), 137-154, 202307
  11. Development and evaluation of VR teaching materials for geological formations combining 3D models and Google Earth, 63(3), 457-471, 202303
  12. Topic Trends in Articles Published in the “Journal of Research in Science Education” Over the Past Decade, Journal of Research in Science Education, 63(1), 225-232, 20220731
  13. Fostering Intellectual Humility through a Teaching Method Based on the Building Process of “Laws” in Elementary School Science, Journal of Research in Science Education, 63(1), 41-51, 20220731
  14. An Investigation of Factors and Gender Differences in STEM/STEAM Career Choices Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory Through Secondary Analysis of PISA 2015 Data, Japan Journal of Educational Technology, 46(2), 303-312, 202206
  15. Paradigm of research in subject pedagogy or curriculum and instruction : focusing on epistemology, 5(2), 159-166, 202203
  16. Teaching activities related to the understanding of the ‘phases of the moon’ among sixth-grade elementary school students: Focusing on connective knowledge, The Bulletin of Japanese Curriculum Research and Development, 44(3), 43-52, 202112
  17. Student Research Misconduct in Elementary School about Science: A Case Study of the Experiment on ‘Pendulum Movement’, Journal of Research in Science Education, 62(2), 513-525, 20211130
  18. Factoristic analysis of teaching goals during school lunch time, 5(1), 17-26, 202109
  19. An analysis of research trends on the physical education teaching trials : focusing on the “Reflection” in teacher training course, 5(1), 41-53, 202109
  20. The Reproducibility Crisis in Science Education Studies: Causes and Solutions, Journal of Research in Science Education, 62(1), 3-22, 20210730
  21. Redevelopment of Need for Cognition Scale in Science Education: Based on Item Response Theory, Journal of Science Education in Japan, 45(2), 215-233, 202107
  22. Cross-cutting concepts as Perspectives in Science Curriculum Development: Focusing on "Dynamic Equilibrium", 43(3), 73-85, 202012
  23. A Study on Fostering “Need for Cognition” in Elementary School Science: Focusing on Teaching Method Based on the Theory Building Process, Journal of Research in Science Education, 61(2), 241-249, 20201130
  24. Students' stages of thought related to the scientific concept of dynamic equilibrium, 40(1), 89-99, 202009
  25. Research on the utilization of scientific knowledge in science classes : focusing on knowledge for connection : lesson practice in 6th grade of elementary school "Phases of the Moon", 4(1), 77-88, 202009
  26. Dialogic Aspects of Dialogic Expressed in the Process of Solving Problems in Elementary School Science and Their Transition: Based on the Case of the 4th Grade of Elementary School, Unit Name “The quality of trapped air”, The Bulletin of Japanese Curriculum Research and Development, 43(2), 1-12, 202009
  27. University Students’ Experience and Recognition of Research Ethics and Research Misconduct in Science Education, Journal of Research in Science Education, 61(1), 139-152, 20200731
  28. The Reality of the Elementary School Teachers' Guidance About the Link of the Problem-Solving Process of the Science, 43(1), 13-19, 202006
  29. Quantitative Research in Subject Pedagogy ―Classification and Points of Attention―, 3(2), 245-254, 202003
  30. Meta-Analysis of Effects of Instructional Interventions for Critical Thinking in Science Education in Japan, Journal of Science Education in Japan, 43(4), 353-361, 201912
  31. Content “Environment” in Course of Study for Kindergarten ―Focusing on the Research Trends―, 3(1), 35-44, 201909
  32. A Review of Research on Modeling in Science Teaching in Japan, 65(65), 19-27, 201612
  33. Students' Understanding of Scientific Models in Lower Secondary School, Journal of Research in Science Education, 57(1), 1-10, 201607
  34. An Analysis of Consistency of Scientific Concept: Based on the Actual Conditions of Undergraduate School Students, 22, 269-273, 201603
  35. Effects of Different Text Representation Styles on Lower Secondary School Students' Scientific Reasoning: Focus on Table Style and Graph Style, International Journal of Curriculum Development and Practice, 37(2), 61-70, 201409
  36. Effects of Different Contexts on Lower Secondary School Students’ Scientific Reasoning, International Conference on Science Education 2012 Proceedings Science Education: Policies and Social Responsibilities, 207-208, 201405

Publications such as books

  1. 2025/10/28, Science Education Monthly, Learning Scientific Concepts through Model-Based Learning, 2025, 202511, Others, Single work, 日本語, UNZAI Hiroshi, 70, 4
    Amazon URL
  2. 2025/09/26, Glossary of Key Terms in Science Education, scientific method, Model-based learning, Learning using the history of science, 2025, 202509, Dictionary/Encyclopedia, Contributor, 日本語, UNZAI Hiroshi, 248, 6
  3. 2022/04, Handbook for Practical Handbook in Elementary School Science, Handbook for Practical Handbook in Elementary School Science, Contributor, jpn, UNZAI Hiroshi, 4316804634, 355, 22-23
  4. 2021/12/25, Teaching Curriculum Exercise, Teaching Curriculum Exercise, Contributor, jpn, UNZAI Hiroshi, 140-143
  5. 2021/12/25, Teaching Curriculum Exercise, Teaching Curriculum Exercise, Contributor, jpn, UNZAI Hiroshi, 126-129
  6. 2021/12/25, Teaching Curriculum Exercise, Teaching Curriculum Exercise, Contributor, jpn, UNZAI Hiroshi, 194-198

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. A Practical Study on Developing Inquiry Skills in Elementary School Science: Focusing on the Fifth-Grade Unit "Pendulum Motion", SAKAGAWA Daiki , UNZAI Hiroshi , KINOSHITA Hiroyoshi, 2025/11/16, Without Invitation, Japanese
  2. Design and Evaluation of Learning Progressions to Deepen Understanding of Solution Concentration in Junior High School Science, NAKAMURA Takuya , KINOSHITA Hiroyoshi , UNZAI Hiroshi, 2025/11/15, Without Invitation, Japanese
  3. What Does Virtue Theory Contribute to Subject-Specific Pedagogy?, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2025/11/15, Without Invitation, Japanese
  4. A Study on Graphing in High School Physics: Focusing on Students' Graphing Content and Difficulties, TAJIMA Kouki , UNZAI Hiroshi , KINOSHITA Hiroyoshi, 2025/11/15, Without Invitation, Japanese
  5. Survey on Intellectual Humility in High School Physics, OIKE Yuhei , UNZAI Hiroshi , KINOSHITA Hiroyoshi, 2025/11/15, Without Invitation, Japanese
  6. Developing Lessons to Promote Career Development in High School Biology: Focusing on Cultivating Problem-Solving Skills, SAWADA Yuho , KINOSHITA Hiroyoshi , UNZAI Hiroshi, 2025/11/15, Without Invitation, Japanese
  7. A Scoping Review of Practice-Based Research on Modeling in Japanese Elementary School Science, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2025/09/05, Without Invitation, Japanese
  8. Trends and Issues in Research on Higher-Order Thinking Skills: Focusing on a Bibliometric Approach, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2025/08/23, Without Invitation, Japanese
  9. Review of the Journal of the Japanese Society for Science Education: Who Was Conducting Research in Science Education?, Hiroshi UNZAI , Kohei ARAYA , Akira YOSHIDA , Haruka YOSHIDA, 2025/08/23, Without Invitation, Japanese
  10. Review of the Early Issues of the Journal of the Japanese Society for Science Education: What Constituted Science Education Research?, Kohei ARAYA , Hiroshi UNZAI , Akira YOSHIDA , Haruka YOSHIDA, 2025/08/23, Without Invitation, Japanese
  11. What are the characteristics of STEM/STEAM teacher professional development in other countries? Focusing on methods that utilize generative AI in coding during reviews and the implementation status of PD., Hiroshi OGAWA , Iwaki TAKEMOTO , Hiroshi UNZAI , Shintaro SATO , Koushi UENO, 2025/08/23, Without Invitation, Japanese
  12. A Review of the Early Issues of the "Journal of Research in Science Education, Japan": Tracing the Origins of Science Education Research in the Japan Society for Science Education, Akira YOSHIDA; Kohei ARAYA; Hiroshi UNZAI; Haruka YOSHIDA, 2025/03/20
  13. A Lesson Proposal to Deepen Understanding of Model Experiments in 'The Work of Flowing Water and Land Changes', Munehiko ITO; Shintaro SATO; Naoki OBATA; Hiroshi UNZAI, 2024/12/21
  14. Science Education Theory Centered on the Cultivation of Self-Transcendence Emotion, Tsuyoshi SHIMODAIRA; Hiroshi UNZAI, 2024/12/21
  15. What kind of impact has the JSSE ECR Committee had over the past 10 years?, Hiroki OTANI; Hiroshi UNZAI; Kohei ARAYA, 2024/12/21
  16. What Are Model Experiments in Science Education?, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2024/12/21
  17. How Middle School Science Teachers Perceive Higher Order Thinking Skills?, MATSUURA Takuya; KINOSHITA Hiroyoshi; MIYOSHI Miori; UNZAI Hiroshi, 2024/11/09
  18. Dissemination and implementation of Curriculum Research and Development, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2024/11/09
  19. Characteristics of “Scientific Explanation of Phenomena” in the Science Competencies of PISA 2025, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2024/09/13
  20. A Case Study of Learning Instruction to Deepen Understanding of Metamodeling Knowledge, Ito Munehiko; Obata Naoki; Unzai Hiroshi, 2024/03/24
  21. A Case Study on the Changes of a Science Education Researcher in the Process of Learning an Unfamiliar Research Methodology, Yuka FUNAHASHI; Shinobu ARAI; Hiroshi UNZAI; Mai OKABE; in Japanese; Hideyuki TANAKA; Daiki NAKAMURA, 2023/12/09
  22. What are the important perspectives for fostering intellectual humility in elementary school science?, Kosaku KAWASAKI; Hiroshi UNZAI; Daiki NAKAMURA; Ryota NAKASHIMA; Hinata HASHIMOTO, 2023/12/09
  23. The Necessity of 'Negotiation' Between Levels in Curriculum Research: Proposals from Lower to Higher Levels Regarding Interdisciplinary Curriculum, UEGATANI Yusuke; UNZAI Hiroshi, KAWAJI Tomoharu, 2023/10/07
  24. A methodological study on research designs for examining the effectiveness of learning and teaching methods - A proposal for a multifaceted method of examination based on methodological pragmatism, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2023/10/07
  25. Introduction of case studies of online research community operations, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2023/09/20
  26. Redevelopment of Intellectual Humility Scale on Science Education —Using Item Response Theory—, UNZAI Hiroshi; KAWASAKI Kosaku, 2022/12/18
  27. Shifting the "question" based on a rational understanding of how "teaching materials" are perceived, SUZUKI Kosuke; Okada Yusuke; UNZAI Hiroshi, 2022/10/08
  28. Nature of School Science(Rika): A Comparison of "Nature of Science" and "Nature of History", UNZAI Hiroshi, 2022/10/08
  29. A Review of “Journal of Science Education in Japan” in 1977-2020: What have we been researching?, ARAYA Kohei; UNZAI Hiroshi; OTANI Hiroki; OGAWA Hiroshi; KAWASAKI Kosaku; SHIMODAIRA Tsuyoshi; TANAKA Hideyuki; NAKAMURA Daiki; NAGANUMA Shotaro; NISHIUCHI Mai; FUJIHARA Seiki; MIURA Kodai; WATANABE Masafumi, 2022/09/18
  30. A Review of “Journal of Science Education in Japan” in 1977-2020: How have we been researching?, UNZAI Hiroshi; ARAYA Kohei; OTANI Hiroki; OGAWA Hiroshi; KAWASAKI Kosaku; SHIMODAIRA Tsuyoshi; TANAKA Hideyuki; NAKAMURA Daiki; NAGANUMA Shotaro; NISHIUCHI Mai; FUJIHARA Seiki; MIURA Kodai; WATANABE Masafumi, 2022/09/18
  31. Literature Review in Science Education, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2022/09/16, published, 先行研究の調べ方―理科教育の研究領域を例として―.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  32. Re-asking "What is Science?" - Dialogue on different perspectives of "science, Unzai Hiroshi, 2022/06/20
  33. How to Teach "What is Science?" from the Perspective of Science Education, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2022/02/19
  34. Intellectual Humility Scale on Science Education, UNZAI Hiroshi; KAWASAKI Kosaku, 2021/12/19, preprint, JSSE2021wakate_20211120.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  35. Science Education Research from the Perspective of Open Science, 2021/09/19, preprint, sjst2021.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  36. A Review of Methods and Characteristics of Assessing the Nature of Science, NAKAMURA Daiki; FUJIHAHA Seiki; KAWASAKI Kosaku; KOBAYASHI Kazuo; KOBAYASHI Yuko; MIURA Kodai; UNZAI Hiroshi, 2021/08/22
  37. Examining Factors That Influence the STEM Career Choices of Secondary School Students: Using Data from TIMSS 2019, NAKAMURA Daiki; UNZAI Hiroshi; MATSUURA Takuya, 2021 International Conference of East-Asian Association for Science Education (EASE2021), 2021/06/18, East-Asian Association for Science Education
  38. Educational Practice and Open Science, NAKAMURA Daiki; UNZAI Hiroshi, JAPAN OPEN SCIENCE SUMMIT 2021, 2021/06/14
  39. Humanity in School Science : Focusing on Intellectual Humility, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2020/09/12, JCRDA2020_200727-3.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  40. Review of Research Methodology in Curriculum Research and Development, UNZAI Hiroshi, Reconsideration of research methodology in science education, 2019/11/09, published, 1_教科教育学における研究方法論の系譜（雲財）.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  41. Studies on Training of Critical Thinking for Modeling -A Case Study on “The Solar System and Star” in Third-Grade of Junior High School-, UNZAI Hiroshi; WADA Takeshi; IWATA Makoto, 2019/08/23, モデリングにおける批判的思考力の育成に関する基礎的研究.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  42. The Relationship between Need for Cognition and Critical Thinking in Science, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2018 International Conference of East-Asian Association for Science Education, 2018/12/01, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan, EASE2018_The Relationship between Need for Cognition and Critical Thinking in Science.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  43. Survey of Recognition of Elementary School Students on Flood Damage, YAMANE Yuhei; UNZAI Hiroshi; INADA Yumi; KADOYA Shigeki, 2018 International Conference of East-Asian Association for Science Education, 2018/11/30, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
  44. Need for Cognition in Science, UNZAI Hiroshi; NAKAMURA Daiki, 2017/12/16, published, 理科における認知欲求に関する基礎的研究.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  45. A Review of Modeling Research in Science Education in Japan, UNZAI Hiroshi; MATSUURA Takuya, 2016 International Conference of East-Asian Association for Science Education EASE2016 Tokyo, 2016/08/27, EASE2016_A Review of Modeling Research in Science Education in Japan.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  46. Nature of Models in Science Education : A Comparison with Models in Mathematics Education, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2015 International Conference of East-Asian Association for Science Education, 2015/10/18, EASE2015_Nature of Models in Science Education A Comparison with Models in Mathematics Education.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  47. Scientific reasoning on lower secondary school students ―Focusing on model based reasoning―, UNZAI Hiroshi, International Postgraduate Research Conference & Summer School 2014, 2014/07/04, IPRCSS2014_Scientific reasoning on lower secondary school students ―Focusing on model based reasoning―.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  48. Student’ s cognition of models on scientific reasoning ―comparison of junior secondary school students with college students―, UNZAI Hiroshi, 2014 EASE-APTCP Winter School, 2014/01/13, EASE2014_Student’s cognition of models on scientific reasoning.pdf
    Attached File's URL
  49. Effects of Different Contexts on Lower Secondary School Students’ Scientific Reasoning, UNZAI Hiroshi, International Conference on Science Education 2012, 2012/10/14, ICSE2012_Effect of Different Contexts on Scientific Reasoning Focusing on the Lower Secondary School Students.pdf
    Attached File's URL

Awards

  1. 2023/09, Best Paper Award, 日本理科教育学会
  2. 2022/09, Presentation Award, Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Science Education, 日本科学教育学会
  3. 2021/12, best presentation, 日本科学教育学会

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. 2025/04, 2029/03
  2. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, 'Rationality' of irrational naive scientific thinking, 2024/04, 2028/03
    Permalink
  3. 2024/04, 2028/03
    Permalink
  4. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Constructing Theoretical and Practical Foundations for Fostering Intellectual Humility in Elementary School Science Education, 2023/04, 2027/03
    Permalink
  5. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), The investigation of the present characteristic of the IBL (Inquiry Based Learning) and the development of IBL's practical program: Comparative study between Japan, US and China, 2019/04, 2023/03
    Permalink
  6. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Research on science classes for developing higher-order thinking skills based on deep learning, 2019/04, 2023/03
    Permalink
  7. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Theoretical and practical research focusing on non-cognitive skills in science, 2019/04, 2022/03
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  8. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity start-up, Practical Research on Scientific Reasoning on Lower Secondary School Students: Focusing on Model Based Reasoning, 2017/08, 2019/03
    Permalink
  9. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, 2016/04, 2018/03
    Permalink

Social Activities

History as Committee Members

  1. community working group leader, 2023/01, 9999, Japanese Association for the Advancement of Science
  2. director, 2024, 2026, Japan Curriculum Research and Development Association

History as Peer Reviews of Academic Papers

  1. 2025, PLoS ONE, Others, 1