What counts in laboratories: Toward a practice-based identity survey

Abstract

An essential step in the process of developing a physics identity is the opportunity to engage in authentic physics practices - an ideal place to gain these experiences is physics laboratory courses. We are designing a practice-based identity survey to be used in physics laboratory courses. A first step in determining the impact of these physics practices is understanding student's interpretations of them. In physics education research, discussions of physics practices, are typically grounded in definitions from experts. Our students are not necessarily experts so, asking questions about what these practices mean to the students and what counts is fundamental to insure that our survey questions are being interpreted correctly.