An  An Exploratory Item Audit of Buoyancy Recognition and Displaced Volume Application among Prospective Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Teachers

Erwinestri Hanidar Nur Afifi; Oki Sandra Agnesa; Gladys Mahaut; Santi  Ekawati

doi:10.47945/misool.v8i2.3371

Authors

Erwinestri Hanidar Nur Afifi Institut Agama Islam Negeri Sorong
Oki Sandra Agnesa Institut Agama Islam Negeri Sorong
Gladys Mahaut Institut Agama Islam Negeri Sorong
Santi Ekawati Institut Agama Islam Negeri Sorong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47945/misool.v8i2.3371

Keywords:

Buoyancy, Displaced Volume, Preservice Teachers, Item Audit, Diagnostic Assessment

Abstract

Correctly naming buoyancy does not establish the ability to apply displaced volume. This exploratory study integrated within-person response analysis and item auditing in archived basic science tests from 37 prospective Madrasah Ibtidaiyah teachers at IAIN Sorong. The 2024 dataset comprised 80 multiple-choice items. Analyses used archived-score summaries, conditional analytical keys, Wilson confidence intervals, and six exact McNemar comparisons with Holm adjustment. Thirty-two participants (86.49%) recognized the buoyancy label, whereas four (10.81%) correctly calculated buoyant force with 80% immersion. Twenty-eight recognized the label but failed the partial-immersion item, a paired difference of 75.68 percentage points (Holm-adjusted p < .0001). Fully versus partially submerged items differed by 35.14 percentage points (adjusted p = .001221). These differences concern specific items rather than causal format effects. Another item lacked a scientifically adequate neutral-buoyancy option and was excluded from correctness scoring. The study contributes a transparent way to distinguish response discrepancies warranting follow-up from item defects requiring revision. Findings suggest testing coordination among verbal, spatial, and mathematical representations; mental representations and misconceptions were not directly measured. Teacher education should use audited tasks with explanations and confidence ratings before assigning diagnostic labels.

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