The Physics Measurement Questionnaire (PMQ) is a survey that measures student reasoning about measurement uncertainty at the intro physics level. It was developed over a decade ago by Prof. Saalih Allie et al. at the University of Cape Town, ZA. The survey concerns an experiment in which a ball rolls down a ramp and then flies through the air in free-fall before landing some horizontal distance away from where it started. The survey contains several questions, or probes, each one concerning a different step in the measurement process (such as "data collection" or "data analysis"). Students respond to each probe by choosing from a set of closed-form options, and then writing an open-response explanation of their choice.
We have used the PMQ to measure learning in the introductory physics lab course at CU Boulder, in conjunction with a course transformation project. More information about that project can be found here. We have also explored the use of natural language processing to assist in the analysis of responses to the PMQ.
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.