Conference Proceedings Detail Page
Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments
written by
Martin M. Stein, Courtney White, Gina Passante, and N. G. Holmes
Measurements in quantum mechanics are often taught in an abstract, theoretical context. Compared to what is known about student understanding of experimental data in classical mechanics, it is unclear how students think about measurement and uncertainty in the context of experimental data from quantum mechanical systems. In this paper, we tested how students interpret the variability in data from hypothetical experiments in classical and quantum mechanics. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 students who had taken quantum mechanics courses and analyzed to which sources they attribute variability in the data. We found that in the quantum mechanics context, most students interpret any variability in the data as irreducible and inherent to the theory. While acknowledging the influence of experimenter error, limited resolution of measurement equipment, and confounding variables (like air resistance) in classical mechanics, many students did not recognize the influence of such effects in quantum mechanics. Some students expressed the view that there are inherently fewer confounding variables in Quantum Mechanics and the equipment used is more precise. We derive tentative implications for instruction and propose further research to test the influence of framing on the responses to our interview protocol.
Physics Education Research Conference 2019
Part of the PER Conference series Provo, UT: July 24-25, 2019 Pages 573-578
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=15307">Stein, M, C. White, G. Passante, and N. Holmes. "Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2019, Provo, UT, July 24-25, 2019.</a>
AIP Format
M. Stein, C. White, G. Passante, and N. Holmes, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2019, Provo, UT, 2019, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Stein, C. White, G. Passante, and N. Holmes, Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2019, Provo, UT, 2019, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219>.
APA Format
Stein, M., White, C., Passante, G., & Holmes, N. (2019, July 24-25). Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2019, Provo, UT. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219
Chicago Format
Stein, M, C. White, G. Passante, and N. Holmes. "Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2019, Provo, UT, July 24-25, 2019. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219 (accessed 7 October 2024).
MLA Format
Stein, Martin M., Courtney White, Gina Passante, and Natasha G. Holmes. "Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments." Physics Education Research Conference 2019. Provo, UT: 2019. 573-578 of PER Conference. 7 Oct. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{
Author = "Martin M. Stein and Courtney White and Gina Passante and Natasha G. Holmes",
Title = {Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2019},
Pages = {573-578},
Address = {Provo, UT},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 24-25},
Year = {2019}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Martin M. Stein %A Courtney White %A Gina Passante %A Natasha G. Holmes %T Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments %S PER Conference %D July 24-25 2019 %P 573-578 %C Provo, UT %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2019 %O July 24-25 %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Stein, Martin M. %A White, Courtney %A Passante, Gina %A Holmes, Natasha G. %D July 24-25 2019 %T Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments %B Physics Education Research Conference 2019 %C Provo, UT %P 573-578 %S PER Conference %8 July 24-25 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15307&DocID=5219 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. Student interpretations of uncertainty in classical and quantum mechanics experiments:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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