An investigation of scholars conceptual understanding levels on fluid dynamics via four-tier test
F H Dewi* and A Samsudin

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Bandung

Abstract

Scholar repeatedly have difficulties in understanding complex physics concepts, such as fluid dynamic concept. It is occured because the scholars conceptual understanding is low, thus indicating a low scholar mental model. The study aims to describe the scholars conceptual understanding levels on fluid dynamic using four-tier diagnostic test. A four tier diagnostic test is a multiple choice diagnostic test that have four tiers consist of answer tier, confidence ratings for the answer tier, and reason tier. The instrument test utilised to describe scholars conceptual understanding level regarding to the mental models. This research use a descriptive-quantitative methods. The data were analyzed using the four-tier diagnostic test rubrics that were used in related literature to analysis scholars conceptual understanding levels. The subject of this study are 40 scholar in the eleventh grade (16-17 age in average) at high school in Bandung. The results show that scholars conceptual understanding levels mostly in SU (12.5%), PU (45%), AC (37.5%), and NU (5%). It is concluded that four-tier diagnostic test is able to use for investigating conceptual understanding levels.

Keywords: conceptual understanding levels, fluid dynamics , four-tier test

Topic: Physics Education