Assessing student learning in quantum computing: The challenging case of phase kickback

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Meyer, Josephine C., Pollock, Steven J., Wilcox, Bethany R., Passante, Gina
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Meyer, Josephine C.
Pollock, Steven J.
Wilcox, Bethany R.
Passante, Gina
author_facet Meyer, Josephine C.
Pollock, Steven J.
Wilcox, Bethany R.
Passante, Gina
contents A major challenge for quantum workforce development is the need to both understand and reliably assess student learning of quantum information science (QIS) fundamentals. Yet student thinking is notoriously difficult to probe, even for seasoned education researchers. This article presents the story of Item 15 on the Quantum Computing Conceptual Survey (QCCS). This assessment item underwent more revision and discussion within the team than the remaining 19 assessment questions combined. This paper provides a behind-the-scenes look at the development of this assessment question: a story that both reveals interesting findings about student reasoning in quantum computing and illustrates why quantum education researchers insist on triangulating diverse quantitative and qualitative data sources when developing and refining assessment items, with implications for any researcher looking to understand and measure student conceptual reasoning in quantum computing, as well as for QIS curriculum and workforce development more broadly.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_22388
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Assessing student learning in quantum computing: The challenging case of phase kickback
Meyer, Josephine C.
Pollock, Steven J.
Wilcox, Bethany R.
Passante, Gina
Physics Education
A major challenge for quantum workforce development is the need to both understand and reliably assess student learning of quantum information science (QIS) fundamentals. Yet student thinking is notoriously difficult to probe, even for seasoned education researchers. This article presents the story of Item 15 on the Quantum Computing Conceptual Survey (QCCS). This assessment item underwent more revision and discussion within the team than the remaining 19 assessment questions combined. This paper provides a behind-the-scenes look at the development of this assessment question: a story that both reveals interesting findings about student reasoning in quantum computing and illustrates why quantum education researchers insist on triangulating diverse quantitative and qualitative data sources when developing and refining assessment items, with implications for any researcher looking to understand and measure student conceptual reasoning in quantum computing, as well as for QIS curriculum and workforce development more broadly.
title Assessing student learning in quantum computing: The challenging case of phase kickback
topic Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.22388