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
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- Applied Research
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- Careers
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- Curriculum Development
- Informal Education
- Instructional Material Design
- Learning Environment
- Pedagogy
- Professional Development
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- 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
This review article from Reviews in PER Volume 3 helps to describe resources for and applications of critical perspectives in PER:
Reflections on Brazilian Physics and Astronomy Education and Communication: A Critical Race Theory Perspective
by A. Alves-Brito.
Find more articles on equity and power in PER in Volume 3 of Reviews in PER. Also available in Spanish.
Community Resources
PER Programs
Browse the different PER groups and their descriptions on the PER Program Map.
For the Classroom
University of Pittsburg E&M Tutorial Series
This set of research-based student tutorials cover the topics of Coulomb's Law, the superposition principle, and symmetry in electrostatics. The materials are appropriate for a calculus-based introductory physics course. Optional pre- and post-tests are available.
Find more PER-based Curricular Materials: Course Packages | Student Activities | Pedagogy Guides
Research Instruments
Attitudes and Approaches to Problem Solving Survey
The AAPS, developed by Mason and Singh, is designed to evaluate students' attitudes and approaches towards physics problem solving. The survey is based on investigations of responses from introductory physics students, graduate students, and faculty members. It expands upon the Attitudes towards Problem Solving survey (Marx and Cummings, 2007) to consider approaches to problem solving and different levels of problem solving expertise.
PER Events 
Foundations and Frontiers of Physics Education Research: Puget Sound 2026
The sixth FFPER: Puget Sound conference will be held August 20-23, 2026 at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center. FFPERPS is a regional conference open to physics educators in the Cascadia region and beyond.
