Analysis of students’ misconceptions on mechanics using three-tier diagnostic test and clinical interview

Abstract

Students misconceptions analysis on mechanics had been done with qualitative approach. Data were obtained through a Three-tier Diagnostic Test adopted from the Force Concept Inventory Test and combined with the Certainly of Response Index of Saleem Hasan, and a clinical interview. Data is validated in three ways, namely the triangulation technique, using reference material, and member check. Then the data is analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The results showed that misconceptions occurred in almost all the concepts. Misconceptions occur most often in the concepts of the object velocity in the Accelerated Linear Motion and the object motion in a parabolic trajectory. Factors that cause misconceptions mostly come from associative thinking, incomplete or wrong reasoning, and wrong intuition. Through clinical interviews, results were obtained that misconceptions were also influenced by the learning of teachers, instructional textbooks, internet, films, and the daily experiences of the students.