An investigation of students’ conceptual understanding levels on fluid dynamics using four-tier test

Abstract

Student repeatedly have difficulties in understanding complex physics concepts, such as fluid dynamic concept. It is occurred because the students’ conceptual understanding is low, thus indicating a low student mental model. The study aims to describe the students’ 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 utilized to describe students’ conceptual understanding level regarding to the mental models. This research uses a descriptive-quantitative method. The data were analyzed using the four-tier diagnostic test rubrics that were used in related literature to analysis students’ conceptual understanding levels. The subject of this study is 24 students in the eleventh grade (16-17 age in average) at high school in Bandung. The results show that students’ conceptual understanding levels mostly in sound understanding/SU (35,27%), partial understanding/PU (42,91%), alternative understanding/AC (17,82%) and no understanding/NU (4%), Based on the result, four-tier test is able to use for investigating conceptual understanding levels.