Conference Proceedings Detail Page
Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices
written by
Paul J. Walter and Gary A. Morris
For common multiple-choice assessments, we can investigate progress in student understanding by creating simple transition matrices that identify the percentage of students who select each possible pre-/post-test answer combination on each question of a diagnostic exam such as the Force Concept Inventory. In order to create a transition matrix, we first rank answer choices from worst to best using item response curves. This allows us to determine changes in understanding of concepts and misconceptions even when students do not get the correct answer on the post-test. Our work outlines the utility of transition matrices and the availability of a new tool for adoption by high school and college level physics teachers who use a common assessment. We then construct transition probabilities matrices and find that students who chose an incorrect answer to a question on the pre-test are equally likely to choose the correct answer on the post-test regardless of which wrong answer she or he selected on the pre-test.
Physics Education Research Conference 2016
Part of the PER Conference series Sacramento, CA: July 20-21, 2016 Pages 376-379
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
![]() <a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=14273">Walter, Paul J., and Gary Morris. "Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016.</a>
![]() P. Walter and G. Morris, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627).
![]() P. Walter and G. Morris, Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627>.
![]() Walter, P., & Morris, G. (2016, July 20-21). Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved February 18, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627
![]() Walter, Paul J., and Gary Morris. "Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627 (accessed 18 February 2025).
![]() Walter, Paul J., and Gary Morris. "Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices." Physics Education Research Conference 2016. Sacramento, CA: 2016. 376-379 of PER Conference. 18 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Paul J. Walter and Gary Morris",
Title = {Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2016},
Pages = {376-379},
Address = {Sacramento, CA},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 20-21},
Year = {2016}
}
![]() %A Paul J. Walter %A Gary Morris %T Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices %S PER Conference %D July 20-21 2016 %P 376-379 %C Sacramento, CA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %O July 20-21 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Walter, Paul J. %A Morris, Gary %D July 20-21 2016 %T Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices %B Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %C Sacramento, CA %P 376-379 %S PER Conference %8 July 20-21 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14273&DocID=4627 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The AJP/PRST-PER presented is based on the AIP Style with the addition of journal article titles and conference proceeding article titles. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. Assessing Student Learning and Improving Instruction with Transition Matrices:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
ContributeRelated MaterialsSimilar Materials |