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Physical Review Physics Education Research
written by John Stewart, Cabot Zabriskie, Seth DeVore, and Gay Stewart
Research on the test structure of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) has largely been performed with exploratory methods such as factor analysis and cluster analysis. Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) provides an alternative to traditional exploratory factor analysis which allows statistical testing to identify the optimal number of factors. Application of MIRT to a sample of N = 4716 FCI post-tests identified a 9-factor solution as optimal. Additional analysis showed that a substantial part of the identified factor structure resulted from the practice of using problem blocks and from pairs of similar questions. Applying MIRT to a reduced set of FCI items removing blocked items and repeated items produced a 6-factor solution; however, the factors still had little relation the general structure of Newtonian mechanics. A theoretical model of the FCI was constructed from expert solutions and fit to the FCI by constraining the MIRT parameter matrix to the theoretical model. Variations on the theoretical model were then explored to identify an optimal model. The optimal model supported the differentiation of Newton's 1st and 2nd law; of one-dimensional and three-dimensional kinematics; and of the principle of the addition of forces from Newton's 2nd law. The model suggested by the authors of the FCI was also fit; the optimal MIRT model was statistically superior.
Physical Review Physics Education Research: Volume 14, Issue 1, Pages 010137
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- General
Education Foundations
- Assessment
= Conceptual Assessment
= Instruments
- Research Design & Methodology
= Data
= Validity
- Sample Population
General Physics
- Physics Education Research
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:
American Physical Society
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137
NSF Number:
PHY-0108787
Keyword:
FCI validity
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created December 31, 2018 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
June 9, 2022 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
June 13, 2018
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AIP Format
J. Stewart, C. Zabriskie, S. DeVore, and G. Stewart, , Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14 (1), 010137 (2018), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137).
AJP/PRST-PER
J. Stewart, C. Zabriskie, S. DeVore, and G. Stewart, Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory, Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14 (1), 010137 (2018), <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137>.
APA Format
Stewart, J., Zabriskie, C., DeVore, S., & Stewart, G. (2018, June 13). Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res., 14(1), 010137. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137
Chicago Format
Stewart, J, C. Zabriskie, S. DeVore, and G. Stewart. "Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14, no. 1, (June 13, 2018): 010137, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137 (accessed 31 October 2024).
MLA Format
Stewart, John, Cabot Zabriskie, Seth DeVore, and Gay Stewart. "Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory." Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 14.1 (2018): 010137. 31 Oct. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{ Author = "John Stewart and Cabot Zabriskie and Seth DeVore and Gay Stewart", Title = {Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory}, Journal = {Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res.}, Volume = {14}, Number = {1}, Pages = {010137}, Month = {June}, Year = {2018} }
Refer Export Format

%A John Stewart %A Cabot Zabriskie %A Seth DeVore %A Gay Stewart %T Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 14 %N 1 %D June 13, 2018 %P 010137 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Journal Article %A Stewart, John %A Zabriskie, Cabot %A DeVore, Seth %A Stewart, Gay %D June 13, 2018 %T Multidimensional item response theory and the Force Concept Inventory %J Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. %V 14 %N 1 %P 010137 %8 June 13, 2018 %U https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.14.010137


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