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International Journal of Science Education
written by Apisit Tongchai, Manjula Devi Sharma, Ian D. Johnston, Kwan Arayathanitkul, and Chernchok Soankwan
An understanding of mechanical waves is a pre-requisite for the study of many topics in advanced physics, and indeed in many other disciplines. There have been many research studies in mechanical waves, all of which have revealed that students have trouble with the basic concepts. Therefore, in order for teachers to prepare appropriate instruction for their classes, it is useful to diagnose their students' conceptions--if possible before they enter class. It is for this purpose that many diagnostic instruments have been developed, often in the form of multiple-choice tests. In this study, we have used the open-ended Wave Diagnostic Test to develop a multiple-choice conceptual survey in an evolutionary manner. The two-year development procedure included open-ended surveys and interviews involving 299 Thai students and 88 Australian students. The final version, called the Mechanical Waves Conceptual Survey, has been administered to 632 Australian students from high school to second-year university and 270 Thai high school students. Standard statistical analyses show that the survey is reliable and valid. Further validity checks, including consultation with experts, were also carried out. The survey has four subtopics--propagation, superposition, reflection, and standing waves--and the teachers can choose the subtopics relevant for their students. In this paper we also demonstrate the use of a typical survey question to test students' conceptual understanding and identify common alternative conceptions.
International Journal of Science Education: Volume 31, Issue 18, Pages 2437-2457
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education - Basic Research
- Assessment
= Conceptual Assessment
= Instruments
Oscillations & Waves
- Wave Motion
- Lower Undergraduate
- High School
- Upper Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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- PER Literature
- Researchers
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© 2009 Taylor & Francis Ltd
DOI:
10.1080/09500690802389605
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created April 25, 2015 by Deleted User
Record Updated:
April 28, 2015 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
January 8, 2009
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AIP Format
A. Tongchai, M. Sharma, I. Johnston, K. Arayathanitkul, and C. Soankwan, , Int. J. Sci. Educ. 31 (18), 2437 (2009), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605).
AJP/PRST-PER
A. Tongchai, M. Sharma, I. Johnston, K. Arayathanitkul, and C. Soankwan, Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves, Int. J. Sci. Educ. 31 (18), 2437 (2009), <https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605>.
APA Format
Tongchai, A., Sharma, M., Johnston, I., Arayathanitkul, K., & Soankwan, C. (2009, January 8). Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves. Int. J. Sci. Educ., 31(18), 2437-2457. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605
Chicago Format
Tongchai, A, M. Sharma, I. Johnston, K. Arayathanitkul, and C. Soankwan. "Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves." Int. J. Sci. Educ. 31, no. 18, (January 8, 2009): 2437-2457, https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605 (accessed 11 October 2024).
MLA Format
Tongchai, Apisit, Manjula Sharma, Ian Johnston, Kwan Arayathanitkul, and Chernchok Soankwan. "Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves." Int. J. Sci. Educ. 31.18 (2009): 2437-2457. 11 Oct. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "Apisit Tongchai and Manjula Sharma and Ian Johnston and Kwan Arayathanitkul and Chernchok Soankwan", Title = {Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves}, Journal = {Int. J. Sci. Educ.}, Volume = {31}, Number = {18}, Pages = {2437-2457}, Month = {January}, Year = {2009} }
Refer Export Format

%A Apisit Tongchai %A Manjula Sharma %A Ian Johnston %A Kwan Arayathanitkul %A Chernchok Soankwan %T Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves %J Int. J. Sci. Educ. %V 31 %N 18 %D January 8, 2009 %P 2437-2457 %U https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Tongchai, Apisit %A Sharma, Manjula %A Johnston, Ian %A Arayathanitkul, Kwan %A Soankwan, Chernchok %D January 8, 2009 %T Developing, Evaluating and Demonstrating the Use of a Conceptual Survey in Mechanical Waves %J Int. J. Sci. Educ. %V 31 %N 18 %P 2437-2457 %8 January 8, 2009 %U https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802389605


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