Relevant CAT: Attitude Survey

Discipline: Physics

Description:
The Maryland Physics Expectation (MPEX) survey has been developed by the Maryland Physics Education Research Group (PERG) as part of a project to study the attitudes, beliefs, and expectations of students that have an effect on what they learn in an introductory calculus-based physics course. Students are asked to agree or disagree on a five-point scale with 34 statements about how they see physics and how they think about their work in their physics course. An actual item in the survey appears in box below.

Authors:
Edward Redish (Physics Department, University of Maryland – College Park)

Jeffrey Saul (Physics Department, University of Maryland – College Park)

Richard Steinberg (Physics Department, University of Maryland – College Park)

Maryland Physics Education Research Group http://www.physics.umd.edu/perg


Selected References:
Physics Education Research Group. Student Expectations in University Physics web page. http://www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/ripe/perg/expects/ex.htm (12 December 2001).

Redish, E.F., Steinberg, R.N., & Saul, J.M. (1998). Student Expectations in Introductory Physics. Am. J. Phys. 66, 212-224. http://www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/ripe/papers/expects/expects1.htm

Redish, E.F., Steinberg, R.N., & Saul, J.M. (1997). The Distribution and Change of Student Expectations in Introductory Physics. In The Changing Role of Physics Departments in Modern Universities, AIP Conf. Proc. 399, 689-698. http://www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/ripe/perg/expects/icupeex.htm

Redish, E.F., Saul, J.M., & Steinberg, R.N. (1997). On the Effectiveness of Active-Engagement Microcomputer-Based Laboratories. Amer. J. of Phys., 65, 45-54. http://www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/ripe/papers/mbl/mbl1.html

Steinberg, R.N., & Sabella, M.S. (1997). Performance on Multiple Choice Diagnostics and Complementary Exam Problems. The Physics Teacher, 35, 150-155. http://www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/ripe/rns/mcpaper.htm