The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems
written by
Chrystin Green and Gina Passante
In this study we use the ACER framework to investigate how students perform the expectation value in quantum mechanics. Students were given an exam question that required the use of the generalized uncertainty principle to find the lower bound of ΔAΔB for different angular momentum operators. This question requires students to use several mathematical tools, but in this study we focus on the expectation value. The data are analyzed using the ACER framework and we give special attention to students' choice of mathematical representation. Of the four components in the ACER framework (activation, construction, execution, and reflection), we find that in our question the activation step presents the largest stumbling block for students. We also discuss the limitations of the ACER framework for this type of investigation.
Physics Education Research Conference 2017
Part of the PER Conference series
Cincinnati, OH: July 26-27, 2017
Pages 152-155
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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/quantum/items/detail.cfm?ID=14593">Green, Chrystin, and Gina Passante. "The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, July 26-27, 2017.</a>
C. Green and G. Passante, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, 2017, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770).
C. Green and G. Passante, The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, 2017, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770>.
Green, C., & Passante, G. (2017, July 26-27). The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770
Green, Chrystin, and Gina Passante. "The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2017, Cincinnati, OH, July 26-27, 2017. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770 (accessed 19 March 2025).
Green, Chrystin, and Gina Passante. "The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems." Physics Education Research Conference 2017. Cincinnati, OH: 2017. 152-155 of PER Conference. 19 Mar. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Chrystin Green and Gina Passante",
Title = {The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2017},
Pages = {152-155},
Address = {Cincinnati, OH},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 26-27},
Year = {2017}
}
%A Chrystin Green %A Gina Passante %T The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems %S PER Conference %D July 26-27 2017 %P 152-155 %C Cincinnati, OH %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2017 %O July 26-27 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Green, Chrystin %A Passante, Gina %D July 26-27 2017 %T The use of ACER to develop and analyze student responses to expectation value problems %B Physics Education Research Conference 2017 %C Cincinnati, OH %P 152-155 %S PER Conference %8 July 26-27 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14593&DocID=4770
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