PERC 2020 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Exploratory factor analysis of the QMCA |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | This investigation is situated within an ongoing project which seeks to understand student thinking in upper-division introductory quantum mechanics courses. Recently, the Quantum Mechanics Concept Assessment (QMCA) was revised to include additional items in spin-basis contexts to reflect the rising prevalence of the "spins-first" instructional paradigm. In this work, we utilize exploratory factor analysis to group items on the QMCA based on common variance. Student responses were collected from several large institutions over the 2018-2019 academic year, with the three largest institutions following a "spins-first" curriculum. In interpreting our factor structure, we focus on the placement of isomorphic questions and the original concept framework of the QMCA, as well as a tentative interpretation of factor groupings. We conclude by discussing how these groupings may be further investigated, as well as implications for subsequent iterations of the QMCA and research on student thinking in these two contexts. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Session Time: | Poster Session III |
| Poster Number: | 3.C4 |
| Contributed Paper Record: | Contributed Paper Information |
| Contributed Paper Download: | Download Contributed Paper |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Adam Quaal California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA 92831 Phone: (951) 963-5169 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Gina Passante, California State University Fullerton Steven J. Pollock, University of Colorado Boulder Homeyra Sadaghiani, California Polytechnic University Pomona |
