The Development of the Action Concept Inventory

Abstract

An Action Concept Inventory was created to measure student understanding of the principles that underpin the principle of stationary action. International Action experts were consulted to create a list of 10 concepts that underpin the principle of least action. This list was then used to create the action concept inventory, an eighteen question multiple choice conceptual test which measures student understanding of the principle of least action. 77 ANU first year students studying action physics took the Action Concept Inventory as both pre-test and post-test. 61 physics honours students, PhD students and academics from the ANU also completed the action concept inventory. This inventory was validated through student interviews, expert review and using statistical analysis. In addition to one on one think aloud interviews, students were interviewed in pairs, this made the interview process more comfortable for the students and decreased the frequency with which students misinterpreted questions. It was found that 15 of the 18 questions were valid measures of students' understanding of action concepts, while three of the questions needed to be revised before the inventory is published. A number of 'Explore All Paths' misconceptions were discovered and as a result it is recommended that one more question is added to the inventory to probe understanding of this concept.