Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics
The expectation value of an observable is an important concept in quantum mechanics. However, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in physics have both conceptual and procedural difficulties when determining the expectation value of physical observables, especially when using Dirac notation. To investigate these difficulties, we administered free-response and multiple-choice questions and conducted individual interviews with students. Here, we discuss the analysis of data on student difficulties when determining the expectation value.
Physics Education Research Conference 2016
Part of the PER Conference series Sacramento, CA: July 20-21, 2016 Pages 320-323
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=14259">Singh, Chandralekha, and Emily Marshman. "Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016.</a>
![]() C. Singh and E. Marshman, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613).
![]() C. Singh and E. Marshman, Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613>.
![]() Singh, C., & Marshman, E. (2016, July 20-21). Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved February 9, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613
![]() Singh, Chandralekha, and Emily Marshman. "Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613 (accessed 9 February 2025).
![]() Singh, Chandralekha, and Emily Marshman. "Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics." Physics Education Research Conference 2016. Sacramento, CA: 2016. 320-323 of PER Conference. 9 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Chandralekha Singh and Emily Marshman",
Title = {Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2016},
Pages = {320-323},
Address = {Sacramento, CA},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 20-21},
Year = {2016}
}
![]() %A Chandralekha Singh %A Emily Marshman %T Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics %S PER Conference %D July 20-21 2016 %P 320-323 %C Sacramento, CA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %O July 20-21 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Singh, Chandralekha %A Marshman, Emily %D July 20-21 2016 %T Student difficulties with determining expectation values in quantum mechanics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %C Sacramento, CA %P 320-323 %S PER Conference %8 July 20-21 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14259&DocID=4613 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.
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