Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance
written by
Andrew J. Mason
Introductory algebra-based physics courses frequently feature multiple student major populations in the same course section; however, different majors' requirements may impact students' motivations towards different aspects of the course material, e.g. problem solving, and hence, impact course performance. A preliminary categorization of student attitudes towards a lab group coordinated problem solving exercise, in which students individually reflect on their group-based problem attempt, is based upon students' written interpretations about the usefulness of the exercise: respectively towards intrinsic value of a problem solving framework, towards performing well in the course, and towards less specific aspects of the exercise. The relationship between choice of major and this preliminary categorization for a typical algebra-based physics course is analyzed, as are trends by major and by category type in a measure of course performance. We also discuss more in-depth development of interpretation for the categorization construct via written artifacts from the problem solving exercise.
Physics Education Research Conference 2015
Part of the PER Conference series
College Park, MD: July 29-30, 2015
Pages 215-218
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<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=13874">Mason, Andrew. "Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015.</a>
A. Mason, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, 2015, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292).
A. Mason, Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, 2015, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292>.
Mason, A. (2015, July 29-30). Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292
Mason, Andrew. "Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292 (accessed 12 May 2025).
Mason, Andrew. "Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance." Physics Education Research Conference 2015. College Park, MD: 2015. 215-218 of PER Conference. 12 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Andrew Mason",
Title = {Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2015},
Pages = {215-218},
Address = {College Park, MD},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 29-30},
Year = {2015}
}
%A Andrew Mason %T Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance %S PER Conference %D July 29-30 2015 %P 215-218 %C College Park, MD %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2015 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Mason, Andrew %D July 29-30 2015 %T Potential Relationship of Chosen Major to Problem Solving Attitudes and Course Performance %B Physics Education Research Conference 2015 %C College Park, MD %P 215-218 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13874&DocID=4292
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