A method and a device are used for carrying out measurements on cells located in a liquid environment. An oscillator as a component of a PLL circuit is constructed so as to be operative in a plurality of bands. The base plates are welded individually to load beams that are formed on the load beam chain blank. The circuit is shown to substantially cancel second-order intermodulation distortion and to enhance a second order intercept point. The results are used to provide reports of strategic problem solving competency for a group of students so that teachers can modify teaching strategies to overcome noted deficiencies.