Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks

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written by Jeffrey M. Hawkins, John R. Thompson, and Michael C. Wittmann

In a series of ten two-dimensional graphical vector addition questions with varying visual representations, most students stuck to a single solution method, be it correct or incorrect. Changes to the visual representation include placing vectors on a grid, making the vectors arrangements symmetric, varying the separation between vectors, and reversing the direction of either vector. We discuss the questions asked of students and their responses, emphasizing the results of one student who did change solution methods during an interview.

Physics Education Research Conference 2009
Part of the PER Conference series
Ann Arbor, Michigan: July 29-30, 2009
Volume 1179, Pages 161-164

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Published: November 11, 2009

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Foundations - Behavior Mathematical Tools - Vector Algebra	- Lower Undergraduate	- Reference Material = Report = Research study

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Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3266704
Access Rights:: Free access and
Available for purchase; A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2009 proceedings is also available.
Restriction:: © 2009 American Institute of Physics
DOI:: 10.1063/1.3266704
NSF Number:: 0633951
PACS:: 01.40.Fk
Keywords:: PERC 2009, graphical vector addition, interview, interviews, solution methods, vector addition, vector addition method, visual representation, visual representation
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created October 5, 2009 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: July 12, 2010 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: November 11, 2009
Other Collections:: The PER-Central

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=9471">Hawkins, J, J. Thompson, and M. Wittmann. "Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009.</a>

AIP Format

J. Hawkins, J. Thompson, and M. Wittmann, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347).

AJP/PRST-PER

J. Hawkins, J. Thompson, and M. Wittmann, Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347>.

APA Format

Hawkins, J., Thompson, J., & Wittmann, M. (2009, July 29-30). Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347

Chicago Format

Hawkins, J, J. Thompson, and M. Wittmann. "Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347 (accessed 3 May 2025).

MLA Format

Hawkins, Jeffrey, John Thompson, and Michael Wittmann. "Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks." Physics Education Research Conference 2009. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 2009. 161-164 Vol. 1179 of PER Conference. 3 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Jeffrey Hawkins and John Thompson and Michael Wittmann", Title = {Students’ Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2009}, Pages = {161-164}, Address = {Ann Arbor, Michigan}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1179}, Month = {July 29-30}, Year = {2009} }

Refer Export Format

%A Jeffrey Hawkins %A John Thompson %A Michael Wittmann %T Students' Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks %S PER Conference %V 1179 %D July 29-30 2009 %P 161-164 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Hawkins, Jeffrey %A Thompson, John %A Wittmann, Michael %D July 29-30 2009 %T Students' Consistency of Graphical Vector Addition Method on 2-D Vector Addition Tasks %B Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %V 1179 %P 161-164 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9471&DocID=1347

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