An analysis of students mental models using temperature and heat transfer-diagnostic test (THT-DT)
R Dewi* and A Samsudin

Departemen Pendidikan Fisika, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

Students mental models can be identified through a students concept understanding. In one study found that one of the students difficulties in learning physics is to understand the concepts of physics, so it can be identified that students have a low mental models. The purpose of this study was to analyse students mental models based on the level of understanding by using diagnostic tests. The instrument has been developed in the form of four tier test to analyse mental models in temperature and heat concept. A four tier test is a test of multiple choice with reason of semi closed answer with confidence rating. The results obtained from the test, classified according to the category of mental models of students. This research used descriptive quantitative method. The subject of the study was 30 eleventh grade students (average age 16 years) in Senior High School in Bandung and has been studying the material temperature and heat transfer. Research results show that 4 students in scientific model level, 8 students in synthetic level, and 18 students in initial model level. In conclusion, the development of THT-DT four-tier test-items is one of potential diagnostic test instrument that able to analyse the level of students mental models.

Keywords: mental models; temperature and heat transfer; diagnostic test

Topic: Physics Education