Using and Developing Measurement Instruments in Science Education

A Rasch Modeling Approach

By:
Xiufeng Liu, State University of New York, Buffalo

A volume in the series: Science & Engineering Education Sources. Editor(s): Mark J. Lattery, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Published 2010

This book meets a demand in the science education community for a comprehensive and introductory measurement book in science education. It describes measurement instruments reported in refereed science education research journals, and introduces the Rasch modeling approach to developing measurement instruments in common science assessment domains, i.e. conceptual understanding, affective variables, science inquiry, learning progression, and learning environments. This book can help readers develop a sound understanding of measurement theories and approaches, particularly Rasch modeling, to using and developing measurement instruments for science education research.

This book is for anyone who is interested in knowing what measurement instruments are available and how to develop measurement instruments for science education research. For example, this book can be a textbook for a graduate course in science education research methods; it helps graduate students develop competence in using and developing standardized measurement instruments for science education research. For use as a textbook there are summaries and exercises at the end of each chapter. Science education researchers, both beginning and experienced, may use this book as a reference for locating available and developing new measurement instruments when conducting a research study.

CONTENTS
1. Essential Concepts and Skills for Using and Developing Measurement Instruments. 2. Approaches to Developing Measurement Instruments. 3. Using and Developing Instruments for Measuring Conceptual Understanding. 4. Using and Developing Instruments for Measuring Affective Variables. 5. Using and Developing Instruments for Measuring Science Inquiry. 6. Using and Developing Instruments for Measuring Learning Progression. 7. Using and Developing Instruments for Measuring Science Learning Environments. Exercises. References. Subject Index. Author Index. About the Authors.