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Abstract Title: Implementing a mixed-methods approach to understand students’ self-efficacy: A pilot study
Abstract: Self-efficacy (SE) – the confidence in one's own ability to complete a task – has been shown to be an important predictor of student success in the sciences. Traditionally, SE is measured using pre/post instruction surveys or retrospective interviews. In this study, we present a pilot of a mixed-methods approach to studying SE. This approach combines a fine-grained quantitative measure with close to the event qualitative reflections. In this paper, we present results from this initial study with five students who transferred credit from a two-year college into a bachelor's program to study physics or astronomy at a large mid-western research university. We report on the incentive structure of the methodology and threats to the integrity of the data. Results indicate that our methodology is robust and ready to scale to a larger study.
Abstract Type: Contributed Poster Presentation
Session Time: Poster Session III
Poster Number: 3.F2
Contributed Paper Record: Contributed Paper Information
Contributed Paper Download: Download Contributed Paper

Author/Organizer Information

Primary Contact: Rachel Henderson
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Co-Author(s)
and Co-Presenter(s)
Vashti Sawtelle -- Michigan State University