Understanding Students’ Free-Body Diagrams Using the Metarepresentations Survey for Physics

Gita Taasoobshirazi; Benjamin C. Heddy; Robert W. Danielson; Eric R.I. Abraham; Shelby Joji

doi:10.17309/jltm.2022.3.01

Authors

Gita Taasoobshirazi Kennesaw State University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6741-6121
Benjamin C. Heddy University of Oklahoma https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2564-653X
Robert W. Danielson Washington State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6288-5719
Eric R.I. Abraham University of Oklahoma https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7727-454X
Shelby Joji Kennesaw State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17309/jltm.2022.3.01

Keywords:

metarepresentations, free body diagrams, construct validity, structural equation modeling, Rasch modeling

Abstract

Study purpose. The Metarepresentations Survey for Physics (MSP) was developed to assess students’ metarepresentational knowledge during physics problem solving.

Materials and methods. The survey was given to 288 introductory-level college physics students. Psychometric properties of the instrument, including construct validity, were evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis.

Results. We also examined students’ beliefs about the use of free-body diagrams, as well as thoroughly examined the link between students’ problem solving success and free-body diagrams.

Conclusions. We recommend the use of the MSP for physics instructors and science education researchers who want to evaluate students’ free-body diagrams. Additionally, we suggest the subject of physics can be replaced with chemistry, genetics, or another science to assess metarepresentations in other domains.

Author Biographies

Gita Taasoobshirazi, Kennesaw State University

School of Data Science and Analytics, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw GA 30144; 404-426-4483, USA.
gtaasoob@kennesaw.edu

Benjamin C. Heddy, University of Oklahoma

Learning Sciences Program, College of Education, 820 Van Vleet Oval, Norman OK 73019; 405-325-5974, USA
heddy@ou.edu

Robert W. Danielson, Washington State University

College of Education, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane WA 99210; 509-358-7793, USA
Robert.danelsn@su.edu

Eric R.I. Abraham, University of Oklahoma

Department of Physics and Astronomy, 440 W. Brooks St., Norman OK 73019; 405-325-6481, USA
abe@ou.edu

Shelby Joji, Kennesaw State University

1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw GA 30144, USA
shelbyjoji@hotmail.com

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