The aim of this diploma thesis is to introduce wayshow teachers can make their elementary school pupils more perceptive to learning physics by the means of specific methods. The thesis first examines on howthe subject is perceived by pupils. It later inquires whether the usage of physical experiments changes how they feel about physics. Initially, the work makes use of an Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) questionnaire. The collected information is later compared and hypotheses are made. Next, the thesis describes how the structural dialogue with elementary school pupils was prepared and subsequently executed to prove the hypotheses. The questionnaire results put a base to the final conclusions and suggestions which can be applied in a classroom.

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The ability to extend educational research beyond the research community could have a great impact on end-users such as teachers, students, or educational administrators. One way to extend the use of educational research is to create tangible educational products; such as virtual simulations, instructional videos, and printed materials; which can be easily and widely distributed. In order to transform research into products, members of the research community must adopt and implement certain product commercialization processes. Effective processes, if not recognized by members of the community, are not helpful for ensuring that quality end products are reached. Likewise, a supportive community would not be able to create successful products without clear processes for doing so. For this reason, this study relied on research on communities of practice and product commercialization to set the foundation for discovering how a product commercialization community could be established. Interviews with faculty and administrators of the McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University were conducted. Qualitative methodology was used in the analysis of the interview data to allow themes to emerge that were important to the researchers. These themes included issues of project funding, human support, time, marketing experience, interaction with existing products, faculty reward system, and community structure and communication practices. Based on analysis of the interviews, the researcher identified several guidelines that would assist administrators in strengthening a community of educational product development among the members of the research community. These guidelines included focusing on motivators other than money, improving communication among members of the community and administrators, adding structure to the existing community, and conducting “quick-win" pilot programs. While this study did not attempt to implement any of these suggestions, it is anticipated that the results will provide a useful foundation for future studies addressing the issue in greater depth.

In psychometrics, a concern is that the assessment is fair for all students who take it. The fairness of an assessment can be evaluated in several ways, including the examination of differential item functioning (DIF). An item exhibits DIF if a subgroup has a lower probability of answering an item correctly than another subgroup after matching on academic achievement. Subgroups include race, spoken language, disability status, or sex. Under item response theory (IRT), a single score is given to each student since IRT assumes that an assessment is only measuring one construct. However, under cognitive diagnostic modeling (CDM), an assessment measures multiple specific constructs and classifies students as having mastered the construct or not. There are several methods to detect DIF under both types of models, but most methods cannot conduct explanatory modeling. Explanatory modeling consists of predicting item responses and latent traits using relevant observed or latent covariates. If an item exhibits DIF which disadvantages a subgroup, covariates can be modeled to explain the DIF and indicate either true or spurious differences. If an item exhibited statistically significant DIF which became nonsignificant after modeling explanatory variables, then the DIF would be explained and considered spurious. If the DIF remained significant after modeling explanatory variables, then there was stronger evidence that DIF was present and not spurious. When an item exhibits DIF, the validity of the inferences from the assessment is threatened and group comparisons become inappropriate. This study evaluated the presence of DIF on the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) between students who speak English as a first language (EFL) and students who do not speak English as a first language (multilingual learners [ML]) in the USA. The 8th grade science data was analyzed from the year 2011 since science achievement remains understudied, the 8th grade is a critical turning point for K-12 students, and because 2011 was the most recent year that item content is available from this assessment. The item response theory with covariates (IRT-C) model was used as the explanatory IRT model, while the reparameterized deterministic-input, noisy "and" gate (RDINA) model was used as the explanatory CDM (E-CDM). All released items were analyzed for DIF by both models with language status as the key grouping variable. Items that exhibited significant DIF were further analyzed by including relevant covariates. Then, if items still exhibited DIF, their content was evaluated to determine why a group was disadvantaged. Several items exhibited significant DIF under both the IRT-C and E-CDM. Most disadvantaged ML students. Under the IRT-C, two items that exhibited DIF were explained by quantitative covariates. Two items that did not exhibit significant nonuniform DIF became significant after explanation. Whether or not a student repeated elementary school was the strongest explanatory covariate, while confidence in science explained the most items. Under the E-CDM, five items initially exhibited significant uniform DIF with one also exhibiting nonuniform DIF. After scale purification, two items exhibited significant uniform DIF, and one exhibited marginally significant DIF. After explanatory modeling, no items exhibited significant uniform DIF, and only one item exhibited marginally significant nonuniform DIF. Examining covariates, home educational resources explained the most with ten items and the strongest positive covariate. Repeated elementary school had the strongest absolute effect. Examining the item content of 14 items, most items had no causal explanation for the presence of DIF. In four items, a causal mechanism was identified and concluded to exhibit item bias. An item's cognitive domain had a relationship with DIF items, with 79% of items under the Knowing domain. Based on these results, DIF that disadvantaged ML students was present among several items on this science assessment. Both the IRT-C and E-CDM identified several items exhibiting DIF, quantitative covariates explained several items exhibiting DIF, and item bias was discovered in several items. Following up on this empirical study, a simulation study was performed to evaluate DIF detection power and Type I error rates of the Wald test and likelihood ratio (LR) test, and parameter recovery when ignoring subgroups, using the compensatory reparameterized unified model (C-RUM). Factors included sample size, DIF magnitude, DIF type, Q-matrix complexity, their interaction effects, and p-value adjustment. Evaluating DIF under the C-RUM, the DIF detection method had the largest effect on Type I error rates, with the Wald test recovering the nominal p-value much better than the LR test. In terms of power, DIF magnitude was the most important factor, followed by Q-matrix complexity. As DIF magnitude increased and Q-matrix complexity decreased, power rates increased. In terms of parameter recovery, the DIF type had the strongest effect, followed by Q-matrix complexity. Nonuniform DIF recovered the parameter more than uniform DIF, while fewer attributes measured by an item improved parameter recovery. Several factors affected DIF detection power and Type I error, including DIF detection method, DIF magnitude, and Q-matrix complexity. For parameter recovery, DIF type had an impact, along with Q-matrix complexity, and DIF magnitude. / Doctor of Philosophy / Academic assessments are a necessary tool to evaluate student educational progress in different subjects across school years. These are necessary to establish student proficiency within schools, districts, states, and countries. The results can be broken down to make various comparisons, including by race, ethnicity, gender, language status, schools, or any other demographic. Other comparisons can be made against a proficiency standard or passing rate. It is important and necessary to make comparisons between groups so that any disparities or achievement gaps can be identified and rectified. This study evaluated achievement gaps between multilingual learner (ML) students and English first language (EFL) students on individual items of an 8th-grade international science assessment. This subject and grade level are crucial for students preparing for college and starting their career development. Every test item was analyzed to determine if there was an achievement gap and if an item was biased against a group based on their first language. Several follow-up analyses were conducted on every item to ensure that the results were as accurate as possible and that there were no other plausible explanations. Several explanatory factors were evaluated, including student home educational resources, confidence in science, likes learning science, repeating elementary school, being bullied at school, and time spent on science homework. For items that had achievement gaps based on language, further analysis was conducted to ensure that the gaps were not due to other student characteristics. Based on that analysis, the item content was examined by myself and a content expert. This was done to evaluate if there were characteristics of the item that led to the language achievement gap. This allowed for the evaluation of whether an item was biased against either ML or EFL students. Fourteen items exhibited achievement gaps based on language status. Most items disadvantaged ML students, and the achievement gaps ranged from small to large. This initial analysis was followed up with more extensive analyses to rule out other potential causes of the achievement gaps. Repeated elementary school had the strongest relationship with these items, while confidence in science was related to the most items exhibiting achievement gaps. There were two items in which the language achievement gap was explained by a combination of factors, thus concluding that there was not any gap on the items. The remaining items still exhibited achievement gaps which led to analysis of the item content. On four items, the causes of the remaining achievement gaps were discovered. For the remaining items, there was no clear reason for the item bias and achievement gaps. This study was followed by a study to evaluate a new method of detecting achievement gaps. This was done by creating specific data so that the true values were known. The sample size, test item complexity, achievement gap size and direction, and gap detection method were evaluated. These conditions and their values were chosen to reflect realistic testing scenarios and provide a better understanding of the previous study's results. The results indicated that one achievement gap detection method had higher detection rates compared to the other detection method. This was true in all conditions. Additionally, achievement gaps were found more often when sample sizes and achievement gaps were larger, test items were less complex, and when one group was disadvantaged across all ability levels. When comparing the estimated and true statistics, there were large deviations when one group was disadvantaged at different proficiency levels. Also, when items were more complex, and sample sizes were smaller, the deviation between true and estimated statistics was larger than when items were simpler and sample sizes were larger.

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Educational research contains many data-driven implications for inservice educational professionals including those who work closely with students with disabilities, special educators. Although special education professionals are under increasing directives to make use of this body of literature in the form of evidence-based practices, they historically strive for self-improvement and often look to research information for strategies as well as innovative approaches to help improve student achievement. Therefore, developing a comprehensive understanding of the issues related to the use of and perceived barriers to educational research information is critical to cultivating a more synergistic relationship between academia and inservice educational professionals. The current study queried 130 inservice special education professionals using an online, anonymous survey instrument. Participants were asked to respond to items that related to four main variables that may exert influence over their interaction with educational research information: general perceptions about educational research, perceived barriers to the use of educational research, typical sources of educational research information, and self-efficacy in the context of information literacy. Self-efficacy, as measured by confidence ratings, was investigated through two contexts: (a) finding information (general vs. research information), and (b) specific steps in the information literacy skill set. The resulting data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated that teachers generally hold positive perceptions of educational research, use a wide variety of sources for research information, and believe three main barriers exist to their use of research information: time, access, and the manageability of information. Although self-efficacy ratings were higher for finding general information versus research information, no differences were present between the steps of the information literacy skill set. / Ph. D.

[ES] La presente tesis doctoral tiene el propósito de afirmar la existencia, así como de dar cuenta de las posibilidades, de una metodología propia de mediación entre la obra de arte contemporáneo y especialistas en educación. Su carácter es expandido y atento a la visualidad. Con expandido se entiende por una parte, la cualidad de situarse interrelacionadamente en diferentes contextos: el centro de arte, el aula universitaria y la escolar. Por otra, la de fomentar desplazamientos y cruces del campo educativo al del arte y del campo del arte al educativo. Esto desemboca en la generación de nuevas identidades docentes y nuevas formas de ser artista así como en nuevas formas de colaboración entre estos profesionales, en favor de una revitalización del hecho artístico, mejoras en la educación artística y en la educación interdisciplinar desde el arte. Con atención a la visualidad se entiende el carácter de una mediación en la que la realidad sentipensante, la estética y la visualidad se proponen como ejes de la acción de mediación y como guías que pueden equilibrar la tendencia a la sobrexposición de la subjetividad del receptor de la obra de arte y la tendencia a sobrexponer las cualidades de la obra frente a las experiencias del receptor, de tal modo que se valore un equilibrio relacional obra-sujeto. Esta propuesta de mediación tiene sentido desde un proceso deselitizador del arte, desde una perspectiva reestetizadora de la educación artística y desde una dirección repersonalizadora de la relación del artista-receptor con la obra y del artista con la sociedad. Su planteamiento filosófico de fondo es pragmatista. La investigación se sitúa en un campo entre la práctica del arte y la educación artística. El posicionamiento de la que parte es a/r/tográfico. Todos estos planteamientos se concretan en el contexto espacio y tiempo de nueve años de trabajo en el campo de la docencia desde la materia de Didáctica artística del Grado de Educación en Florida Universitaria por una profesora (la misma que investiga y escribe estas letras) de formación y trayectoria como pintora. La metodología de investigación aplicada es la educativa basada en artes visuales y la a/r/tográfica. Desde este marco metodológico se proponen dos estrategias de investigación: la fotonovela para la mediación artística y la Logotesis para la investigación a/r/tográfica. / [CA] La present tesi doctoral té el propòsit d'afirmar l'existència, així com de donar compte de les possibilitats, d'una metodologia pròpia de mediació entre l'obra d'art contemporani i especialistes en educació. El seu caràcter és expandit i atent a la visualitat. Amb expandit s'entén d'una banda, la qualitat de situar-se interrelacionadament en diferents contextos: el centre d'art, l'aula universitària i l'escolar. Per una altra banda, la de fomentar desplaçaments i entrecreuaments del camp educatiu al de l'art i del camp de l'art a l'educatiu. Això desemboca en la generació de noves identitats docents i noves maneres de ser artista així com en noves formes de col·laboració entre aquests professionals, en favor a una revitalització del fet artístic, millores en l'educació artística i en l'educació interdisciplinària des de l'art. Amb atenció a la visualitat s'entén el caràcter d'una mediació en la qual la realitat sentipensant, l'estètica i la visualitat es proposen com a eixos de l'acció de mediació i com a guies que poden equilibrar la tendència a la sobrexposició de la subjectivitat del receptor de l'obra d'art i la tendència a sobrexposar les qualitats de l'obra enfront de les experiències del receptor, de tal manera que es valore un equilibri relacional obra-subjecte. Aquesta proposta de mediació té sentit des d'un procés des-elititzador de l'art, des d'una perspectiva re-estetitzadora de l'educació artística i des d'una direcció re-personalitzadora de la relació de l'artista-receptor amb l'obra i de l'artista amb la societat. El seu plantejament filosòfic de fons és pragmatista. La investigació se situa en un camp entre la pràctica de l'art i l'educació artística. El seu posicionament és a/r/tográfic. Tots aquests plantejaments es concreten en el context espai i temps de nou anys de treball en el camp de la docència des de la matèria de Didàctica artística del Grau d'Educació a Florida Universitària d'una professora (la mateixa que investiga i escriu aquestes lletres) de formació i trajectòria com a pintora. La metodologia d'investigació aplicada és l'educativa basada en arts visuals i l'a/r/togràfica. Des d'aquest marc metodològic es proposen dues estratègies d'investigació: la fotonovela per a la mediació artística, i la Logotesis, per a la investigació a/r/togràfica. / [EN] This doctoral thesis is aimed at stating he existence, as well as to account for the possibilities, of a methodology of mediation between the work of contemporary art and education specialists. It has both an expanded and an attentive-to-visuality nature. By expanded we mean, on the one hand, the quality of situating itself interrelatedly in different contexts: the art centre, the university classroom and the school classroom. On the other hand, it encourages shiftings and crossovers from the field of education to the field of art and from the field of art to the field of education. This leads to the generation of new teaching identities and new ways of being an artist, as well as new forms of collaboration between these professionals, in favour of a revitalisation of the artistic fact, improvements in art education and interdisciplinary education from art. Attention to visuality is understood as the nature of a mediation in which thinking and sentient reality, aesthetics and visuality are proposed as axes of the action of mediation and as guides that can balance the tendency to overdisplay the subjectivity of the receiver of the work of art and the tendency to overdisplay the qualities of the work against the experiences of the receiver, in such a way that a work-subject relational balance is valued. This mediation proposal makes sense from a de-eliticising process of art, from a re-aesthetising perspective of art education and from a re-personalising direction of the relationship of the artist-recipient with the work and of the artist with society. Its basic philosophical approach is pragmatist. The research is situated in a field between art practice and art education. The position from which it starts is a/r/tographic. All these approaches take place in the space and time context of nine years of work in the field of teaching Art Didactics for the Degree in Education at Florida Universitaria by a teacher (the same one who is researching and writing these lines) with a background and career as a painter. The research methodology applied is the educational methodology based on visual arts and a/r/tography. From this methodological framework, two research strategies are proposed: the Photo-novel for the artistic mediation, and the Logothesis, for the a/r/tographic research. / Rueda Gascó, L. (2023). Mediación expandida. Un estudio a/r/tográfico y educativo basado en la visualidad entre la obra de arte contemporáneo y docentes de Infantil y Primaria [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/193687