Using Three-Tier Diagnostic Test to Assess Students' Misconceptions of States of Matter

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KIRBULUT Z. D., GEBAN Ö.

EURASIA JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, vol.10, no.5, pp.509-521, 2014 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.12973/eurasia.2014.1128a
  • Journal Name: EURASIA JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.509-521
  • Keywords: Diagnostic test, science education, secondary school, states of matter, three-tier test, CHILDRENS VIEWS, VAPOR-PRESSURE, GAS STATE, CONCEPTIONS, EVAPORATION, CHEMISTRY, CONDENSATION, SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, WATER
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study involves the development of a three-tier diagnostic test to measure high school students' understanding of states of matter concepts. The States of Matter Diagnostic Test (SMDT) is a 19-item three-tier diagnostic test consisting of three-tier items for assessing students' understanding of states of matter concepts. The SMDT was administered to 195 10th grade high school students in the pilot study and 102 10th grade high school students in the main study. Cronbach alpha reliability indexes for the SMDT were estimated to be .78 and .83 for the pilot and main study, respectively. Point-biserial coefficients ranged from .20 to .69 with an average of .44 for the pilot study and with an average of .49 for the main study.