Education research is our focus
Welcome to PER-Central, a resource collection for physics education researchers. Here you may find articles, theses and dissertations, research groups, curricular material, and news and events of interest to the PER Community. Learn more about PER-Central.
PER Literature
Search the literature by:
Or find an article by topic:
- Basic Research
- Achievement
- Alternative Conceptions
- Assessment
- Behavior
- Cognition
- Communication
- Learning Theory
- Problem Solving
- Research Design & Methodology
- Sample Population
- Societal Issues
- Student Characteristics
- Teacher Characteristics
- Applied Research
- Active Learning
- Careers
- Classroom Management
- Curriculum Development
- Informal Education
- Instructional Material Design
- Learning Environment
- Pedagogy
- Professional Development
- Recruitment
- School Improvement
- Teacher Preparation
- Technology
By Topic:
Astronomy, Classical Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism, Fluid Mechanics, General Physics, Mathematical Tools, Modern Physics, Optics, Oscillations & Waves, Other Sciences, Quantum Physics, Relativity, Thermo & Stat Mech
Reviews in PER
Volume 2 of Reviews in PER is dedicated to helping researchers get started in Physics Education Research.
In this review article, a member of the PER community presents an overview of an area of PER:
An Introduction to Classical Test Theory as Applied to Conceptual Multiple-choice Tests
by P. V. Engelhardt.
Find more articles introducing PER research methods in Volume 2 of Reviews in PER.
Community Resources
Features
This document, prepared by journal editors and PER community members, grew out of conversations that brought attention to the negative impact particular reviews have had on community members. These conversations precipitated a survey inviting community members to share their experiences of the PER journal review process. This 2-page survey summary issues recommendations on the basis of our interpretations. We focus on respectful reviewing and do not comprehensively address reviewing practices writ large.
PER Programs
Browse the different PER groups and their descriptions on the PER Program Map.
For the Classroom
SEI Upper-Division Quantum Mechanics I Transformed Course Materials
This web site provides research-based materials for junior-level quantum mechanics 1 courses. Topics covered include the Schrödinger equation, bound state problems, Hilbert space and operators, the hydrogen atom, and spin. The course archives include documented student difficulties, learning goals, ConcepTests (clicker questions), class activities, homework, tutorials, and a conceptual assessment tool.
Find more PER-based Curricular Materials: Course Packages | Student Activities | Pedagogy Guides
Research Instruments
Magnetism Conceptual Survey
The Magnetism Conceptual Survey (MCS), developed by Singh and Li, is designed to evaluate students' conceptual understanding of magnetism up to Faraday's law. It is written for algebra- and calculus-based introductory courses.
PER Events 
FFPER: Puget Sound 2020
The fifth FFPERPS (Foundations and Frontiers of Physics Education Research: Puget Sound) conference will be held June 18-21, 2020 at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center.
