PERC 2010 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Test-Retest Reliability of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The FCI has influenced the development and acceptance of many research-based pedagogies. Although the FCI's external validity was studied, no data exists on test-retest reliability. We administered the FCI to students enrolled in an Electricity&Magnetism course in the first week of the semester and re-administered the FCI that same week. No mechanics review took place between test administrations. A total of 100 students completed the test and re-test. We find a correlation of r=0.89 between test and re-test total scores, suggesting strong reliability. We then looked at changes between Right and answers and Wrong answers in the test and re-test. We isolate five possible transitions: Right-Right, Right-Wrong, Wrong-Right, Wrong-Wrong_same, Wrong-Wrong_different. Students changed their choices on 31% of items, suggesting weak reliability. Chi-square analyses show the test to be neither completely random nor completely consistent. Using an iteratively constructed probabilistic model, we report the probability for each transition. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Nathaniel Lasry John Abbott College |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Kelly Miller, McGill University Orad Reshef, McGill University Ariel Dahan, McGill University Helena Dedic, Vanier College Steve Rosenfield, Vanier College |
