Welcome to the PER@C studies of analogy page. Here, you will find a range of materials that we have used in our studies of analogy and representation. These materials are organized by research paper below.

Feel free to email: email Noah Podolefsky

"Use of Analogy in Learning Physics: The role of representations" Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 2, 020101 (2006)

Journal Article LINK

"Analogical Scaffolding and the Learning of Abstract Ideas in Physics: An example from electromagnetic waves" Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3, 010109 (2007)

by Noah S. Podolefsky and Noah D. Finkelstein

Journal Article LINK

"Analogical Scaffolding and the Learning of Abstract Ideas in Physics: Empirical studies" Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. 3, 020104 (2007)

by Noah S. Podolefsky and Noah D. Finkelstein

Journal Article LINK

Across-domain study

EM Waves Pre/Post Test (the pre- and post-tests are identical)

Abstract Tutorial

Concrete Tutorial

Blend Tutorial

*The tutorials above are based on L.C. McDermott & P. Schaffer, Tutorials in Introductory Physics, Prentice Hall (2001). They have been significantly modified to include analogies and varied representations.

Within-domain study

Abstract Sound Quiz

Concrete Sound Quiz

Blend Sound Quiz

“Reframing analogy: framing as a mechanism of analogy use.” PERC Proceedings 2006. AIP.

by Noah S. Podolefsky and Noah D. Finkelstein

Full Piece

"Salience of Representations and Analogies in Physics." PERC Proceedings 2007. AIP

by Noah S. Podolefsky and Noah D. Finkelstein

Full Piece

"How Abstract is Abstract? Layering Meaning in Physics." PERC Proceedings 2008. AIP

by Noah S. Podolefsky and Noah D. Finkelstein

Full Piece