This resource letter provides a guide to Research-Based Assessment Instruments (RBAIs) of physics and astronomy content. These are standardized assessments that were rigorously developed and revised using student ideas and interviews, expert input, and statistical analyses. RBAIs have had a major impact on physics and astronomy education reform by providing a universal and convincing measure of student understanding that instructors can use to assess and improve the effectiveness of their teaching. In this resource letter, we present an overview of all content RBAIs in physics and astronomy by topic, research validation, instructional level, format, and themes, to help faculty find the best assessment for their course. More details about each RBAI available in physics and astronomy are available at PhysPort: physport.org/assessments.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2017
Resource Letter|
April 01 2017
Resource Letter RBAI-1: Research-Based Assessment Instruments in Physics and Astronomy
Adrian Madsen;
Adrian Madsen
American Association of Physics Teachers,
College Park
, Maryland 20740
Search for other works by this author on:
Sarah B. McKagan;
Sarah B. McKagan
American Association of Physics Teachers,
College Park
, Maryland 20740
Search for other works by this author on:
Eleanor C. Sayre
Eleanor C. Sayre
Department of Physics,
Kansas State University
, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
Search for other works by this author on:
Am. J. Phys. 85, 245–264 (2017)
Article history
Received:
May 01 2016
Accepted:
January 30 2017
Citation
Adrian Madsen, Sarah B. McKagan, Eleanor C. Sayre; Resource Letter RBAI-1: Research-Based Assessment Instruments in Physics and Astronomy. Am. J. Phys. 1 April 2017; 85 (4): 245–264. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4977416
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Pay-Per-View Access
$40.00
Citing articles via
The physics of “everesting” on a bicycle
Martin Bier
Resource Letter: Synthesis of the elements in stars
Artemis Spyrou
A simplified relativity experiment
David P. Jackson, Fedya Grishanov, et al.
Exploration of the Q factor for a parallel RLC circuit
J. G. Paulson, M. W. Ray
All objects and some questions
Charles H. Lineweaver, Vihan M. Patel
Related Content
Resource Letter RBAI-2: Research-based assessment instruments: Beyond physics topics
Am. J. Phys. (May 2019)
Best Practices for Administering Concept Inventories
The Physics Teacher (December 2017)
Periscope: Looking into Learning in Best-Practices Physics Classrooms
Phys. Teach. (February 2018)
Developing physics identities
Physics Today (May 2016)
What can we learn from PER: Physics Education Research?
The Physics Teacher (December 2014)