The Significance of Accurate Student Self-Assessment in Understanding of Chemical Concepts

Comparisons of free-response and multiple-choice answers reveal different aspects of a student's understanding of complex material. In this study, we developed a series of three-stage Web-based questions for use as pre-instruction assessments of student knowledge of general chemistry. In addition to a free-response and a multiple-choice component, a third component reveals the students' self-assessment skills, providing insight into the "chemistry language" students must know. The results strongly suggest the need for teaching approaches that develop students' ability to critically self-assess their own knowledge and understanding.