Impact of a conventional introductory laboratory course on the understanding of measurement

dc.creator	Trevor S. Volkwyn
dc.creator	Saalih Allie
dc.creator	Andy Buffler
dc.creator	Fred Lubben
dc.date	2008-05-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:09:12Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:09:12Z
dc.identifier	1554-9178
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/ebe4530dc64c4e3998eb821534308435
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/12582
dc.description	Conventional physics laboratory courses generally include an emphasis on increasing students’ ability to carry out data analysis according to scientific practice, in particular, those aspects that relate to measurement uncertainty. This study evaluates the efficacy of the conventional approach by analyzing the understanding of measurement of freshmen following the physics major sequence, i.e., top achievers, with regard to data collection, data processing, and data comparison, through pre- and postinstruction tests by using an established instrument. The findings show that the laboratory course improved the performance of the majority of students insofar as the more mechanical aspects of data collection and data processing were concerned. However, only about 20% of the cohort of physics majors exhibited a deeper understanding of measurement uncertainty required for data comparison.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	American Physical Society
dc.relation	http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRSTPER/v4/e010108
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1554-9178
dc.source	Physical Review Special Topics. Physics Education Research, Vol 4, Iss 1 (2008)
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Impact of a conventional introductory laboratory course on the understanding of measurement
dc.type	article