A Review of Student Difficulties in Upper-Level Quantum Mechanics

TL;DR

This review synthesizes research on student difficulties in upper-level quantum mechanics, highlighting common reasoning challenges and suggesting research-based teaching strategies to improve understanding.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of student reasoning difficulties in quantum mechanics and discusses pedagogical approaches informed by research findings.

Findings

Large diversity in student performance across institutions.

Many students lack a functional understanding of core concepts.

Common difficulties include over-generalization and distinguishing related concepts.

Abstract

Learning advanced physics, in general, is challenging not only due to the increased mathematical sophistication but also because one must continue to build on all of the prior knowledge acquired at the introductory and intermediate levels. In addition, learning quantum mechanics can be especially challenging because the paradigms of classical mechanics and quantum mechanics are very different. Here, we review research on student reasoning difficulties in learning upper-level quantum mechanics and research on students' problem-solving and metacognitive skills in these courses. Some of these studies were multi-university investigations. The investigations suggest that there is large diversity in student performance in upper-level quantum mechanics regardless of the university, textbook, or instructor and many students in these courses have not acquired a functional understanding of the fundamental concepts. The nature of reasoning difficulties in learning quantum mechanics is analogous to reasoning difficulties found via research in introductory physics courses. The reasoning difficulties were often due to over-generalizations of concepts learned in one context to another context where they are not directly applicable. Reasoning difficulties in distinguishing between closely related concepts and in making sense of the formalism of quantum mechanics were common. We conclude with a brief summary of the research-based approached that take advantage of research on student difficulties in order to improve teaching and learning of quantum mechanics.