Nesta tese de doutorado, dedicamo-nos a identificar as razões da evasão em cursos de graduação em Física a partir de um caso particular: o Instituto de Física da UFRGS. A pesquisa consiste de três níveis de análise (estrutural, individual e institucional), articulados sob o marco teórico da tradição disposicionalista em pesquisa sociológica, que tem em Pierre Bourdieu seu maior expoente. Na análise estrutural, identificou-se que filhos de classe popular e dominante são igualmente propensos a evadir ou concluir o curso. No entanto, identificou-se que filhos de classe popular são sensivelmente mais propensos a ficar retidos no curso e acumular reprovações nas disciplinas de Física Básica. Nesse sentido, a análise estrutural permite sustentar que, embora tenham todos a mesma chance de evasão, os filhos das elites são mais propensos a evadir em direção a carreiras mais prestigiadas enquanto os filhos de classe popular são mais propensos a evadir por fracasso escolar. Na transição para a análise individual, foi preciso e possível lançar um olhar crítico sobre as conclusões tiradas na análise anterior. Partindo das contribuições de Bernard Lahire, identificaramse, por meio de entrevistas em profundidade e retratos sociológicos, as condições materiais e os patrimônios de competências e disposições que constituem razão da evasão de cinco ex-alunos do curso de Física. Enfim, na análise institucional, elaboramos uma apropriação disposicionalista do modelo paradigmático de Vincent Tinto. Nela, avançamos o conceito de disposição institucional e aplicamos esse conceito para caracterizar a vida e o funcionamento do Instituto de Física. Foi entrevistada uma amostra representativa dos alunos atualmente matriculados no curso (n=35) e foi realizada uma análise do conteúdo de suas entrevistas. Como resultado, foi possível identificar que o Instituto de Física, em vista de suas próprias disposições institucionais, não pode ser considerado capaz de proporcionar a todos os seus alunos as mesmas oportunidades de aprender. Em vista disso, sugerimos uma agenda de ação para a Instituição baseada nos próprios resultados dessa pesquisa. / In this thesis, we strived to identify reasons for dropout in undergraduate physics’ courses from studying a particular case: the Institute of Physics at UFRGS. The research consists of three levels of analysis (structural, institutional and individual), articulated under the theoretical framework of the dispositionalist tradition in sociological research, which finds in Pierre Bourdieu its greatest representative. In structural analysis, we found that working class and elite students are equally susceptible to dropout. However, we found that working class students are much more likely to be retained in the course and accumulate low grades physics. In this sense, structural analysis supports the that, although they are equally likely to evade, elite students are more likely to dropout the course toward more prestigious careers while working class students are more likely to evade due to school failure. In the individual analysis, it was necessary and possible to cast a critical eye on the conclusions drawn in the previous analysis. Building on the contributions of Bernard Lahire, we identified through in-depth interviews and sociological portraits, material conditions, skills and dispositions that responsible for the dropout of five former physics’ students. Finally, for the institutional analysis, we developed a dispositionalist appropriation to the paradigmatic model of Vincent Tinto. Here, we advance the concept of institutional arrangement and apply this concept to characterize the life and functioning of the Institute of Physics. We interviewed a representative sample of students currently enrolled in the course (n = 35) and performed a content analysis of their interviews. As a result, it was identified that the Institute of Physics, due to its own institutional arrangements, can not be considered capable of providing all students equal opportunities to learn. From this conclusion, we suggest an agenda for institutional action based on our research findings.

Nesta tese de doutorado, dedicamo-nos a identificar as razões da evasão em cursos de graduação em Física a partir de um caso particular: o Instituto de Física da UFRGS. A pesquisa consiste de três níveis de análise (estrutural, individual e institucional), articulados sob o marco teórico da tradição disposicionalista em pesquisa sociológica, que tem em Pierre Bourdieu seu maior expoente. Na análise estrutural, identificou-se que filhos de classe popular e dominante são igualmente propensos a evadir ou concluir o curso. No entanto, identificou-se que filhos de classe popular são sensivelmente mais propensos a ficar retidos no curso e acumular reprovações nas disciplinas de Física Básica. Nesse sentido, a análise estrutural permite sustentar que, embora tenham todos a mesma chance de evasão, os filhos das elites são mais propensos a evadir em direção a carreiras mais prestigiadas enquanto os filhos de classe popular são mais propensos a evadir por fracasso escolar. Na transição para a análise individual, foi preciso e possível lançar um olhar crítico sobre as conclusões tiradas na análise anterior. Partindo das contribuições de Bernard Lahire, identificaramse, por meio de entrevistas em profundidade e retratos sociológicos, as condições materiais e os patrimônios de competências e disposições que constituem razão da evasão de cinco ex-alunos do curso de Física. Enfim, na análise institucional, elaboramos uma apropriação disposicionalista do modelo paradigmático de Vincent Tinto. Nela, avançamos o conceito de disposição institucional e aplicamos esse conceito para caracterizar a vida e o funcionamento do Instituto de Física. Foi entrevistada uma amostra representativa dos alunos atualmente matriculados no curso (n=35) e foi realizada uma análise do conteúdo de suas entrevistas. Como resultado, foi possível identificar que o Instituto de Física, em vista de suas próprias disposições institucionais, não pode ser considerado capaz de proporcionar a todos os seus alunos as mesmas oportunidades de aprender. Em vista disso, sugerimos uma agenda de ação para a Instituição baseada nos próprios resultados dessa pesquisa. / In this thesis, we strived to identify reasons for dropout in undergraduate physics’ courses from studying a particular case: the Institute of Physics at UFRGS. The research consists of three levels of analysis (structural, institutional and individual), articulated under the theoretical framework of the dispositionalist tradition in sociological research, which finds in Pierre Bourdieu its greatest representative. In structural analysis, we found that working class and elite students are equally susceptible to dropout. However, we found that working class students are much more likely to be retained in the course and accumulate low grades physics. In this sense, structural analysis supports the that, although they are equally likely to evade, elite students are more likely to dropout the course toward more prestigious careers while working class students are more likely to evade due to school failure. In the individual analysis, it was necessary and possible to cast a critical eye on the conclusions drawn in the previous analysis. Building on the contributions of Bernard Lahire, we identified through in-depth interviews and sociological portraits, material conditions, skills and dispositions that responsible for the dropout of five former physics’ students. Finally, for the institutional analysis, we developed a dispositionalist appropriation to the paradigmatic model of Vincent Tinto. Here, we advance the concept of institutional arrangement and apply this concept to characterize the life and functioning of the Institute of Physics. We interviewed a representative sample of students currently enrolled in the course (n = 35) and performed a content analysis of their interviews. As a result, it was identified that the Institute of Physics, due to its own institutional arrangements, can not be considered capable of providing all students equal opportunities to learn. From this conclusion, we suggest an agenda for institutional action based on our research findings.

Nesta tese de doutorado, dedicamo-nos a identificar as razões da evasão em cursos de graduação em Física a partir de um caso particular: o Instituto de Física da UFRGS. A pesquisa consiste de três níveis de análise (estrutural, individual e institucional), articulados sob o marco teórico da tradição disposicionalista em pesquisa sociológica, que tem em Pierre Bourdieu seu maior expoente. Na análise estrutural, identificou-se que filhos de classe popular e dominante são igualmente propensos a evadir ou concluir o curso. No entanto, identificou-se que filhos de classe popular são sensivelmente mais propensos a ficar retidos no curso e acumular reprovações nas disciplinas de Física Básica. Nesse sentido, a análise estrutural permite sustentar que, embora tenham todos a mesma chance de evasão, os filhos das elites são mais propensos a evadir em direção a carreiras mais prestigiadas enquanto os filhos de classe popular são mais propensos a evadir por fracasso escolar. Na transição para a análise individual, foi preciso e possível lançar um olhar crítico sobre as conclusões tiradas na análise anterior. Partindo das contribuições de Bernard Lahire, identificaramse, por meio de entrevistas em profundidade e retratos sociológicos, as condições materiais e os patrimônios de competências e disposições que constituem razão da evasão de cinco ex-alunos do curso de Física. Enfim, na análise institucional, elaboramos uma apropriação disposicionalista do modelo paradigmático de Vincent Tinto. Nela, avançamos o conceito de disposição institucional e aplicamos esse conceito para caracterizar a vida e o funcionamento do Instituto de Física. Foi entrevistada uma amostra representativa dos alunos atualmente matriculados no curso (n=35) e foi realizada uma análise do conteúdo de suas entrevistas. Como resultado, foi possível identificar que o Instituto de Física, em vista de suas próprias disposições institucionais, não pode ser considerado capaz de proporcionar a todos os seus alunos as mesmas oportunidades de aprender. Em vista disso, sugerimos uma agenda de ação para a Instituição baseada nos próprios resultados dessa pesquisa. / In this thesis, we strived to identify reasons for dropout in undergraduate physics’ courses from studying a particular case: the Institute of Physics at UFRGS. The research consists of three levels of analysis (structural, institutional and individual), articulated under the theoretical framework of the dispositionalist tradition in sociological research, which finds in Pierre Bourdieu its greatest representative. In structural analysis, we found that working class and elite students are equally susceptible to dropout. However, we found that working class students are much more likely to be retained in the course and accumulate low grades physics. In this sense, structural analysis supports the that, although they are equally likely to evade, elite students are more likely to dropout the course toward more prestigious careers while working class students are more likely to evade due to school failure. In the individual analysis, it was necessary and possible to cast a critical eye on the conclusions drawn in the previous analysis. Building on the contributions of Bernard Lahire, we identified through in-depth interviews and sociological portraits, material conditions, skills and dispositions that responsible for the dropout of five former physics’ students. Finally, for the institutional analysis, we developed a dispositionalist appropriation to the paradigmatic model of Vincent Tinto. Here, we advance the concept of institutional arrangement and apply this concept to characterize the life and functioning of the Institute of Physics. We interviewed a representative sample of students currently enrolled in the course (n = 35) and performed a content analysis of their interviews. As a result, it was identified that the Institute of Physics, due to its own institutional arrangements, can not be considered capable of providing all students equal opportunities to learn. From this conclusion, we suggest an agenda for institutional action based on our research findings.

This licentiate thesis describes an investigation of participation and achievement in undergraduate physics courses with a discourse analytical lens. Issues of unequal participation have been a growing concern for the physics education research community. At the same time, these issues have not been explored to any large extent using already developed theoretical tools from fields of social science and humanities. This thesis builds on earlier studies in physics education research but crosses disciplinary boundaries to bring in perspectives from gender studies. The two papers use a discourse theoretical framework to explore what it might mean to participate in physics, whether that is one’s primary subject or not, in courses in electromagnetism and quantum physics. A general conclusion that can be drawn from these empirical studies is that physics courses may often be taught from a narrow physics perspective, and that this may limit the possibilities for identification for many students. For instance, engineering students whose main area was not physics failed to see much significance in studying electromagnetism and then just “studied to pass”. Additionally, students on physics programmes may find that the limited positions in quantum physics which can be characterized as mainly focused on “calculating”, are hard to reconcile with their interest in physics. Using a discourse perspective, I broaden this critique to a discussion of the culture of physics: What does it mean to become a physicist and what physics culture follows from different “productions” of physicists? These results inform continued research in physics education by raising issues of identity and providing critical frameworks for exploring them. They also point to the importance of including broad views of physics in courses. Critically examining participation in physics, this thesis aims at widening the discussion and provide new ways to talk about these issues in physics education research.

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<p dir="ltr">The study investigates the effectiveness of productive failure learning using a contrasting-cases design of ill-structured problems followed by well-structured problems. Fifty-one future elementary school teachers, enrolled in an undergraduate physics course were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions: a) ill-structured followed by well-structured problems (IS-WS), b) well-structured followed by well-structured problems (WS-WS), and c) ill-structured followed by ill-structured problems (IS-IS). The study hypothesized that the first condition with a contrasting-case design would outperform the non-contrasting-case design. After solving treatment problems in their respective conditions, all the participants took a post-test that comprised both ill-structured and well-structured problems. The one-way and two-way ANOVA results showed that while productive failure learning (IS-WS) outperformed WS-WS on both procedural and conceptual knowledge in the well-structured post-test, there was no significant difference between the three learning conditions in the ill-structured post-test. The findings indicated that structuring instruction lies on a continuum between highly structured and unstructured. For higher-level physics education, productive failure learning provided the optimum balance of discovery learning via ill-structured problems and guided instruction via well-structured problems to activate prior knowledge, draw attention to critical features of the canonical concept, and facilitate motivation and excitement within learners, resulting in effective learning.</p>

Not only is Quantum Mechanics (QM) conceptually rich, it is also a theory that physics students have found abstract and technically formidable. Nevertheless, compared to other classical topics of physics, university students’ understanding of QM has received minimal attention in the physics education literature. The principal purpose of this study was to characterize the variation in the ways that undergraduate physics students depict the basic concepts of QM and to extrapolate the results to scaffold possible changes to instructional practices at the university that provided the context for the study. In so doing, an adaptation of a developmental phenomenographic perspective was chosen. Empirically, the study was approached through in-depth interviews with 35 physics students from two Ethiopian governmental universities after they had been exposed to the traditional QM course for one-third of a semester. Interview responses were analyzed using phenomenographic approach where a picture of students’ depictions was established for each quantum concept by expounding the given responses. For each basic quantum concept addressed, the structure of the description categories was separately constructed, and overall, it was found that naive, quasi-classical ontology and/or variants of classical ways of visualization are dominant in students’ responses. For example, it was found that students’ depictions of the photon concept could be described with three distinct categories of description, which are (a) classical intuitive description, (b) mixed model description and (c) quasi-quantum model description. Similarly, the findings revealed that it is possible to establish three qualitatively different categories of description to picture students’ depictions of matter waves, namely, (a) classical and trajectory-based description, (b) an intricate blend of classical and quantum description and (c) incipient quantum model description. Likewise, it was found that students’ depictions of uncertainty principle can be described as: (a) uncertainty as classical ignorance, (b) uncertainty as measurement disturbance and (c) uncertainty as a quasi-quantum principle. With regard to learning QM, the categories of description made clear several issues: most students did not have enough knowledge to depict the basic concepts of QM properly; they were influenced by the perspective of classical physics and their perceptions in making explanations about QM; and they also applied mixed ideas, one based on their classical model and the other from newly introduced QM. These results are also supported by the findings of previous studies in similar domains. Findings from the study were used to guide the design of multiple representations-based instructions and interactive learning tutorials on the conceptual aspects of QM that has been shown to address specific difficulties identified in the study. Theoretical and practical implications of the study, as well as potential future considerations are drawn. / Mathematics, Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Not only is Quantum Mechanics (QM) conceptually rich, it is also a theory that physics students have found abstract and technically formidable. Nevertheless, compared to other classical topics of physics, university students’ understanding of QM has received minimal attention in the physics education literature. The principal purpose of this study was to characterize the variation in the ways that undergraduate physics students depict the basic concepts of QM and to extrapolate the results to scaffold possible changes to instructional practices at the university that provided the context for the study. In so doing, an adaptation of a developmental phenomenographic perspective was chosen. Empirically, the study was approached through in-depth interviews with 35 physics students from two Ethiopian governmental universities after they had been exposed to the traditional QM course for one-third of a semester. Interview responses were analyzed using phenomenographic approach where a picture of students’ depictions was established for each quantum concept by expounding the given responses. For each basic quantum concept addressed, the structure of the description categories was separately constructed, and overall, it was found that naive, quasi-classical ontology and/or variants of classical ways of visualization are dominant in students’ responses. For example, it was found that students’ depictions of the photon concept could be described with three distinct categories of description, which are (a) classical intuitive description, (b) mixed model description and (c) quasi-quantum model description. Similarly, the findings revealed that it is possible to establish three qualitatively different categories of description to picture students’ depictions of matter waves, namely, (a) classical and trajectory-based description, (b) an intricate blend of classical and quantum description and (c) incipient quantum model description. Likewise, it was found that students’ depictions of uncertainty principle can be described as: (a) uncertainty as classical ignorance, (b) uncertainty as measurement disturbance and (c) uncertainty as a quasi-quantum principle. With regard to learning QM, the categories of description made clear several issues: most students did not have enough knowledge to depict the basic concepts of QM properly; they were influenced by the perspective of classical physics and their perceptions in making explanations about QM; and they also applied mixed ideas, one based on their classical model and the other from newly introduced QM. These results are also supported by the findings of previous studies in similar domains. Findings from the study were used to guide the design of multiple representations-based instructions and interactive learning tutorials on the conceptual aspects of QM that has been shown to address specific difficulties identified in the study. Theoretical and practical implications of the study, as well as potential future considerations are drawn. / Mathematics, Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)