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Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses
The transition from sophomore-level classes to junior-level classes is often a significant one; the level of mathematics, abstraction, and difficulty is higher than what was encountered previously. This study examines students' perspectives of quantum mechanics and intermediate classical mechanics across two dimensions: disciplinary identity (math vs. physics course) and epistemic focus (mathematical vs. conceptual). Using a semantic differential scale methodology in semi-structured interviews with six students, we collected both quantitative (percentage estimations from the scale placements) and qualitative (student justifications of their placements) data. Here, we present our results for both types of data, which show that the 'abstractness' of quantum mechanics and 'tangibleness' of classical mechanics determine how students perceive their disciplinary identity. For the epistemic scale, instructional choices seem to be most impactful in influencing student perspectives. Mathematical preparation also appears to influence how students perceive classical and quantum mechanics on these scales.
Physics Education Research Conference 2025
Part of the PER Conference series Washington, DC: August 6-7, 2025 Pages 142-147
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=17131">Doughty, L, J. Tran, and J. Freericks. "Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, August 6-7, 2025.</a>
AIP Format
L. Doughty, J. Tran, and J. Freericks, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, 2025, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059).
AJP/PRST-PER
L. Doughty, J. Tran, and J. Freericks, Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, 2025, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059>.
APA Format
Doughty, L., Tran, J., & Freericks, J. (2025, August 6-7). Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059
Chicago Format
Doughty, L, J. Tran, and J. Freericks. "Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2025, Washington, DC, August 6-7, 2025. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059 (accessed 12 December 2025).
MLA Format
Doughty, Leanne, Jason Tran, and James K. Freericks. "Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses." Physics Education Research Conference 2025. Washington, DC: 2025. 142-147 of PER Conference. 12 Dec. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{
Author = "Leanne Doughty and Jason Tran and James K. Freericks",
Title = {Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2025},
Pages = {142-147},
Address = {Washington, DC},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {August 6-7},
Year = {2025}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Leanne Doughty %A Jason Tran %A James K. Freericks %T Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses %S PER Conference %D August 6-7 2025 %P 142-147 %C Washington, DC %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2025 %O August 6-7 %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Doughty, Leanne %A Tran, Jason %A Freericks, James K. %D August 6-7 2025 %T Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses %B Physics Education Research Conference 2025 %C Washington, DC %P 142-147 %S PER Conference %8 August 6-7 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=17131&DocID=6059 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. Comparing student perspectives of intermediate classical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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