PERC 2009 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Using Cluster Analysis to Group Student Responses on the FMCE |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Previous work with applying cluster analysis to free response questions about two-dimensional motion has shown suggestive similarities between the groups found by the cluster analysis and the traditional classifications of student responses [1]. A comparison of cluster analysis and traditional classifications over a single class, however, was unable to make any hard and fast conclusions because the cluster analysis results were unreliable for that population size (N = 106) [2]. In this poster we present the results of making the same kind of pivot table comparison over a larger data set (N = 677) which served to reduce the amount of noise in the cluster analysis results. [1] R. P. Springuel, M. C. Wittmann, and J. R. Thompson, Applying clustering to statistical analysis of student reasoning about two-dimensional kinematics, Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research 3, 020107 (2007). [2] R. P. Springuel, M. C. Wittmann, and J. R. Thompson, Comparing cluster analysis and traditional analysis methods in PER, AAPT Summer National Meeting (2007). |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
R. Padraic Springuel University of Maine 5709 Bennett Hall University of Maine Orono, ME 04469 Phone: 207-581-1038 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Name: Michael C. Wittmann Institution: University of Maine |
