Patterns of College Students' Energy Understanding Across Science Disciplines

• In Event: 30.081 - Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: 30.081-4 - Science Learning and Teaching Posters II

Abstract

The author used a published energy concept measurement instrument consisting of four test forms, i.e., physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science forms. Findings showed that the order of average item difficulty levels by two energy aspects was the same across four different disciplines. In addition, there were statistically significant effects on item difficulties at the p < .05 level for the energy aspects with large effect size. Further analysis of item difficulties for energy aspects by science content topics revealed different sequences of item difficulty between two energy aspects across various content topics. Together, these findings showed more promising characteristics of cross-disciplinary energy concept in energy degradation/conservation than energy source/form/transfer aspect.

Author

• Mihwa Park, University at Buffalo - SUNY