Developing the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory

The Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (LPCI) was developed to aid instructors in assessing students’ mental models of lunar phases. Based upon an in-depth qualitative investigation of students' initial models of lunar phases, this multiplechoice inventory was designed to take advantage of the innovative model analysis theory [1] to probe the different dimensions of students' mental models of lunar phases. The development of this inventory will be discussed, as well as the processes involved in establishing its reliability and validity.