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Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis
written by Nekeisha Johnson and John B. Buncher
It has been well documented that introductory physics students struggle with vector addition and subtraction. We use the results of a multiple-choice assessment on one-dimensional vector addition and subtraction, administered to students in a large-enrollment algebra-based physics sequence, to explore the consistency in the types of errors students make. The assessment was analyzed using Module Analysis for Multiple Choice Responses, a type of network analysis that highlights groups of responses commonly given together. We find evidence for five distinct modules that are consistent across multiple semesters. Of these groups, two support the method of "closing-the-loop", two are consistent with students performing the wrong operation, and one suggests that students provide an answer independently of whether they were prompted to add or subtract two vectors, though only for vectors that are anti-aligned.
Physics Education Research Conference 2020
Part of the PER Conference series
Virtual Conference: July 22-23, 2020
Pages 246-251
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Foundations
- Alternative Conceptions
- Assessment
= Conceptual Assessment
= Methods
- Research Design & Methodology
= Statistics
Mathematical Tools
- Vector Algebra
= Vector Addition
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
= Research study
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- Educators
- application/pdf
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2020…
Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Rights Holder:
American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:
10.1119/perc.2020.pr.Johnson
NSF Number:
1560142
Keyword:
PERC 2020
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created August 27, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
August 30, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
September 1, 2020
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Record Link
AIP Format
N. Johnson and J. Buncher, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2020, Virtual Conference, 2020, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339).
AJP/PRST-PER
N. Johnson and J. Buncher, Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2020, Virtual Conference, 2020, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339>.
APA Format
Johnson, N., & Buncher, J. (2020, July 22-23). Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2020, Virtual Conference. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339
Chicago Format
Johnson, Nekeisha, and John Buncher. "Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2020, Virtual Conference, July 22-23, 2020. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339 (accessed 28 March 2024).
MLA Format
Johnson, Nekeisha, and John Buncher. "Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis." Physics Education Research Conference 2020. Virtual Conference: 2020. 246-251 of PER Conference. 28 Mar. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Nekeisha Johnson and John Buncher", Title = {Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2020}, Pages = {246-251}, Address = {Virtual Conference}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {July 22-23}, Year = {2020} }
Refer Export Format

%A Nekeisha Johnson %A John Buncher %T Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis %S PER Conference %D July 22-23 2020 %P 246-251 %C Virtual Conference %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2020 %O July 22-23 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Johnson, Nekeisha %A Buncher, John %D July 22-23 2020 %T Examining consistency of student errors in vector operations using module analysis %B Physics Education Research Conference 2020 %C Virtual Conference %P 246-251 %S PER Conference %8 July 22-23 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=15491&DocID=5339


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