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written by
Adrian M. Madsen, Sarah B. McKagan, and Eleanor C. Sayre
Physics faculty care about their students learning physics content. In addition, they usually hope that their students will learn some deeper lessons about thinking critically and scientifically. They hope that as a result of taking a physics class, students will come to appreciate physics as a coherent and logical method of understanding the world, and recognize that they can use reason and experimentation to figure things out about the world. Physics education researchers have created several surveys to assess one important aspect of thinking like a physicist: what students believe that learning physics is all about. In this article, we introduce attitudes and beliefs surveys and give advice on how to choose, administer, and score them in your classes. This article is a companion to "Best Practices for Administering Concept Inventories," which introduces and answers common questions around concept inventories, which are research-based assessments of physics content topics.
The Physics Teacher: Volume 58, Issue 90, Pages 90-93
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=16193">Madsen, A, S. McKagan, and E. Sayre. "Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics." Phys. Teach. 58, no. 90, (January 23, 2020): 90-93.</a>
![]() A. Madsen, S. McKagan, and E. Sayre, , Phys. Teach. 58 (90), 90 (2020), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786).
![]() A. Madsen, S. McKagan, and E. Sayre, Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics, Phys. Teach. 58 (90), 90 (2020), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786>.
![]() Madsen, A., McKagan, S., & Sayre, E. (2020, January 23). Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics. Phys. Teach., 58(90), 90-93. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786
![]() Madsen, A, S. McKagan, and E. Sayre. "Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics." Phys. Teach. 58, no. 90, (January 23, 2020): 90-93, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786 (accessed 3 May 2025).
![]() Madsen, Adrian, Sarah B. McKagan, and Eleanor Sayre. "Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics." Phys. Teach. 58.90 (2020): 90-93. 3 May 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786>.
![]() @article{
Author = "Adrian Madsen and Sarah B. McKagan and Eleanor Sayre",
Title = {Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics},
Journal = {Phys. Teach.},
Volume = {58},
Number = {90},
Pages = {90-93},
Month = {January},
Year = {2020}
}
![]() %A Adrian Madsen %A Sarah B. McKagan %A Eleanor Sayre %T Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics %J Phys. Teach. %V 58 %N 90 %D January 23, 2020 %P 90-93 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Journal Article %A Madsen, Adrian %A McKagan, Sarah B. %A Sayre, Eleanor %D January 23, 2020 %T Best Practices for Administering Attitudes and Beliefs Surveys in Physics %J Phys. Teach. %V 58 %N 90 %P 90-93 %8 January 23, 2020 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5144786 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
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