Identification of students’ difficulties in understanding of vector concepts using test of understanding of vector

Abstract

This study is aimed to identify students’ difficulties in understanding vector concepts in physics because many students think that vector concept is very difficult to understand. This research used an embedded approach research design with quantitative descriptive methods and the sampling used a random sampling technique. Total sample of 142 students from two different schools in Central Lombok district. Test of understanding of vector (TUV) used to test the understanding of students consist of 20 item questions, then followed by interview session with several students. Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric descriptive and inferential statistic was used to performed data analysis. The results of this study indicate that (i) students’ ability to understand vector concepts is still lacking and tends to be very lacking; (ii) the most difficult items for students are the unit vector graphic representation and the graphical representation of vector multiplication. The concept of vector is still considered very difficult for students, especially if the item questions use graphical representations. For further researchers, it is better to conduct a study related to what kind of learning system can support and reduce the difficulties faced by students in learning vector concepts especially on graphical representation.