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Book chapter
Scientific research self-efficacy among undergraduates: Current contexts and approaches for measurement
Self-Efficacy in School and Community Settings, pp.21-52
Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
2012
Abstract
To help address current concerns about the strength and diversity of the United States scientific and technical workforce, expert panels and organizations recommend recruiting young people into active research environments. Here we present a brief review of the construct of self-efficacy and its related social cognitive career theory, as they pertain to research and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). We focus on the use of measures of self-efficacy (SE) for tasks that predict academic preparation in STEM fields and intent to persist in STEM careers, particularly for undergraduate students who are members of demographic groups currently underrepresented in the sciences ( e.g. racial and ethnic groups, individuals from disadvantaged socioeconomic or educational backgrounds, and those with disabilities). We present a sample study from our own work, wherein we compare two approaches to providing undergraduates with a summer research .experience in neuroscience: a traditional mentored apprenticeship model (AM) and a. collaborative learning model (CLM). We used measures of scientific research self-efficacy and leadership/teamwork self-efficacy, among other instruments, as tools to assess and compare the models. We further present results of a qualitative case study of four individuals in our program to help describe their research experience and identify potential sources of self-efficacy. Both the AM and CLM significantly increased scientific research and leadership/teamwork self-efficacy. The qualitative data helped identify specific program components, essentially mastery experiences in scientific research, that were sources of gains in self-efficacy. We relate our measures of self-efficacy to those of other relevant constructs, such as science anxiety, identity, and commitment to science, and discuss these results in the context of social cognitive career theory. Continued work applying self-efficacy and social cognitive career theory will help strengthen and diversify the scientific workforce.
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Details
- Title
- Scientific research self-efficacy among undergraduates
- Publication Details
- Self-Efficacy in School and Community Settings, pp.21-52
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Contributors
- Shari L. Britner (Editor)
- Publisher
- Nova Science Publishers, Inc.; New York
- Copyright
- © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
- Identifiers
- 99380090310906600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English