PERC 2013 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Different student populations and the Lawson Test of Scientific Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Anton Lawson's Revised Test of Scientific Reasoning consists of 12 paired multiple-choice items that have students answer questions in the first part and justify their responses in the second. Lawson himself noted that purely pencil-and-paper methods of testing reasoning may put some subjects at a disadvantage due to their reading and writing skills. Purdue University has one of the nation's largest freshmen-level, calculus-based physics courses and one of the highest international student enrollment rates which provides a unique opportunity to test this concern for native versus non-native English speakers. During the Fall 2012 semester, we administered the Test of Scientific Reasoning with matched pre/post tests for 378 self-reported native speakers and 211 self-reported non-native speakers. Analysis of these results uncovered multiple differences between these populations as well as other issues with the Lawson instrument itself. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Ethan C. Stanley Department of Physics, Purdue University 525 Northwestern Ave West Lafayette, IL 47907-2036 Phone: 765-494-2970 Fax: 765-494-0706 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Jignesh Mehta, Department of Physics, Purdue University Andrew Hirsch, Department of Physics, Purdue University Rebecca Lindell, Department of Physics, Purdue University |
