The development of a diagnostic test of basic knowledge in Engineering Mechanics: Force system for undergraduate students

The objectives of this research are as follows: 1) To synthesize basic knowledge in the subject of Engineering Mechanics: Force system for undergraduate students. 2) To develop a Diagnostic test to identify deficiencies in the Basic knowledge of Engineering Mechanics: Force system for undergraduate students. 3) To diagnose the deficiencies in the Basic knowledge of Engineering Mechanics: Force systems for undergraduate students. The research sample consists of 27 third-year students and 35 first-year students, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education Program in Civil Engineering. The research utilizes the following tools: Diagnostic Test of basic knowledge in Engineering Mechanics: Force system for undergraduate students. The research findings can be summarized as follows:

1. The survey and analysis of Basic knowledge in Engineering Mechanics: Force system, revealed three categories of knowledge deficiencies. These categories include: a) Physics Fundamentals: This category encompasses Newton's laws, vectors, and principles of force and unit systems. b) Mathematical Fundamentals: This category includes basic mathematical calculations, solving equations, trigonometry, and coordinate geometry. c) Calculator Usage Fundamentals: This category involves basic calculator functions and utilizing mathematical functions on calculators. In total, there were 30 subtopics identified across these three categories.
2. The results of developing a diagnostic test for assessing basic knowledge in the subject of Mechanics in Engineering: Force system, revealed that the test could be used to diagnose 30 out of 60 items. The developed diagnostic test met the quality criteria, with Difficulty levels ranging from 0.30 to 0.78, Discrimination power ranging from 0.23 to 0.77. The reliability coefficient is 0.94. And a Validity, as evaluated by content experts and measurement specialists, with a value of 1.00 for each item.
3. The results of diagnosing the Basic knowledge in Engineering Mechanics: Force systems, based on group and individual assessments indicate that it effectively reflects deficiencies in various topics. This information can be utilized by teachers and test developers to improve instructional strategies and enhance teaching methods for students. Additionally, the individual diagnostic results can be used by test takers to identify their areas of weakness and focus on self-improvement in those specific topics.