PERC 2025 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Navigating Anxiety in Introductory Physics: The Role of Growth Mindset in Student Perceptions of Physics |
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| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Abstract: | Introductory physics students majoring in the life sciences tend to experience significant levels of anxiety and fear when beginning this course. Research suggests that anxiety arises when academic demands exceed cognitive abilities, impacting student performance and persistence [1, 2]. This study analyzed interviews from 20 students who had taken algebra-based physics, in which we examine their experiences, perceptions, and responses to feeling anxiety in lieu of taking physics. Using a growth mindset framework, we explored how students manage their challenges and develop coping strategies and how their perceptions might shift after taking the course. Our qualitative analysis of students' perceptions of physics before and after their course showed particular mindset codes [3] in response to challenges were more prevalent. Negative emotions towards physics is highly prevalent in students' responses along with self-capabilities beliefs. While mindset codes after taking the course are more positive in emotion and feature more statements of positive effort when completing the course. This leads to a better understanding of students' perceptions of physics being linked to the biased stereotype of physics being perceived as difficult. Targeting these anxious perceptions of physics might need a change in the cultural narrative of physics with the help of effective mindset strategies in the classroom. |
| Session Time: | Poster Session A |
| Poster Number: | A-36 |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Tatiana Aristizabal Florida International University Miami, FL 33199 Phone: 3053487898 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Sony Raymond, STEM Transformation Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 Idaykis Rodriguez, STEM Transformation Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 |
