An increase in general quantitative literacy and discipline-specific Physics Quantitative Literacy (PQL) is a major course goal of most introductory-level physics sequences—yet there exist no instruments to assess how PQL changes with instruction in these types of courses. To address this need, we are developing the Physics Inventory of Quantitative Literacy (PIQL), a multiple-choice inventory to assess students’ sense-making about arithmetic and algebra concepts that underpin reasoning in introductory physics courses—proportional reasoning, covariational reasoning and reasoning about sign and signed quantities. The PIQL will be used to not only to assess students’ PQL at specific points in time, but also to track changes in and development of PQL that can be attributed to instruction. Data from early versions of the PIQL suggest that students experience difficulty reasoning about sign and signed quantities. 
                        more » 
                        « less   
                    
                            
                            Developing a Reasoning Inventory for Measuring Physics Quantitative Literacy
                        
                    
    
            In an effort to improve the quality of citizen engagement in workplace, politics, and other domains in which quantitative reasoning plays an important role, Quantitative Literacy (QL) has become the focus of considerable research and development efforts in mathematics education. QL is characterized by sophisticated reasoning with elementary mathematics. In this project, we extend the notions of QL to include the physics domain and call it Physics Quantitative Literacy (PQL). We report on early stage development from a collaboration that focuses on reasoning inventory design and data analysis methodology for measuring the development of PQL across the introductory physics sequence. We have piloted a prototype assessment designed to measure students' PQL in introductory physics: Physics Inventory of Quantitative Literacy (PIQL). This prototype PIQL focuses on two components of PQL: proportional reasoning, and reasoning with signed quantities. We present preliminary results from approximately 1,000 undergraduate and 20 graduate students. 
        more » 
        « less   
        
    
                            - Award ID(s):
- 1832880
- PAR ID:
- 10118622
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1181-1182
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
- 
            
- 
            Karunakaran, S. S.; Reed, Z.; Higgins, A. (Ed.)Mathematical reasoning flexibility across physics contexts is a desirable learning outcome of introductory physics, where the “math world” and “physical world” meet. Physics Quantitative Literacy (PQL) is a set of interconnected skills and habits of mind that support quantitative reasoning about the physical world. The Physics Inventory of Quantitative Literacy (PIQL), which we are currently refining and validating, assesses students’ proportional reasoning, co-variational reasoning, and reasoning with signed quantities in physics contexts. In this paper, we apply a Conceptual Blending Theory analysis of two exemplar PIQL items to demonstrate how we are using this theory to help develop an instrument that represents the kind of blended reasoning that characterizes expertise in physics. A Conceptual Blending Theory analysis allows for assessment of hierarchical partially correct reasoning patterns, and thereby holds potential to map the emergence of mathematical reasoning flexibility throughout the introductory physics sequence.more » « less
- 
            Karunakaran, S. S.; Reed, Z.; Higgins, A. (Ed.)The Physics Inventory of Quantitative Literacy (PIQL) aims to assess students’ physics quantitative literacy at the introductory level. PIQL’ s design presents the challenge of isolating types of mathematical reasoning that are independent of each other in physics questions. In its current form, PIQL spans three principle reasoning subdomains previously identified in the research literature: ratios and proportions, covariation, and signed (negative) quantities. An important psychometric objective is to test the orthogonality of these three reasoning subdomains. We present results that suggest that students’ responses to PIQL questions do not fit this structure. Groupings of correct responses identified in the data provide insight into the ways in which students’ knowledge may be structured. Moreover, questions with multiple correct responses may have different responses in different data-driven groups, suggesting that the both the answer choice and the context of the question may impact how students (implicitly) relate various ideas.more » « less
- 
            Quantitative reasoning is an essential learning objective of physics instruction. The Physics Inventory for Quantitative Literacy (PIQL) is a published assessment tool that has been developed for calculus-based physics courses to help instructors evaluate whether their students learn to reason this way. However, the PIQL is not appropriate for the large population of students taking physics who are not enrolled in, or have not completed, calculus. To address this need, we have developed the General Equation-based Reasoning inventory of QuaNtity (GERQN). The GERQN is an of the PIQL and is appropriate for most physics students; the only requirement is that students have taken algebra, so they are familiar with the use of variables, negative quantities, and linear functions. In this paper, we present the development and validation of the GERQN, and a short discussion on how the GERQN can be used by instructors to help their students learn.more » « less
- 
            Ryan, Qing X; Pawl, Andrew; Zwolak, Justyna P (Ed.)The Physics Inventory of Quantitative Literacy (PIQL) has been used to measure the development of students’ physics quantitative literacy in calculus-based introductory physics courses. Despite its effectiveness, issues persist regarding time constraints and potential memorization of items. We propose to split the PIQL into two shorter but statistically equivalent exams (PIQLets) in order to avoid these problems. Using a data set collected with the full PIQL, we created 480 theoretical PIQLet pairs containing different combinations of items. We provide evidence for the similarity of PIQLet pairs by calculating score differences, and comparing the distribution of item parameters calculated using item response theory. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for defining an equivalent pair of PIQLets using a limited data set from a single university. Additional analyses using a broader and more diverse data set will be required for more broadly applicable results.more » « less
 An official website of the United States government
An official website of the United States government 
				
			 
					 
					
 
                                    