scholarly journals What’s Your STEMspiration?: Adaptation and Validation of A Survey Instrument

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalyn Hobson Hargraves ◽  
Kristin L. Morgan ◽  
Holly Jackson ◽  
Kelly Feltault ◽  
Jasmine Crenshaw ◽  
...  

Millions of dollars each year are invested in intervention programs to broaden participation and improve bachelor degree graduation rates of students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The Virginia–North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (VA-NC Alliance), a consortium of 11 higher education institutions and one federal laboratory funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is one such investment., The VA-NC Alliance partners implement evidence-based STEM intervention programs (SIPs) informed by research and specifically designed to increase student retention and graduation rates in STEM majors. The VA-NC Alliance is conducting an Alliance-wide longitudinal research project based in Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) titled “What’s Your STEMspiration?” The goal of the research project is to assess the differentiated impacts and effectiveness of the Alliance’s broadening participation efforts and identify emergent patterns, adding to the field of knowledge about culturally responsive SIPs. In other words, “What’s Your STEMspiration?” explores what influences and inspires undergraduates to pursue a STEM degree and career; and how does the development of a STEM identity support students in achieving their goals. In order to complete this research, the research team developed a survey instrument to conduct the quantitative portion of the study. Two preliminary studies, statistical analysis, and cognitive interviews were used to develop and validate the survey instrument. This paper discusses the theoretical and conceptual frameworks and preliminary studies upon which the survey is built, the methodology used to validate the instrument, and the resulting final survey tool.

Author(s):  
Tina Miller

This chapter focuses on a qualitative longitudinal (QL) research project, Transition to Fatherhood, and later episodes of fathering and fatherhood experiences. It begins by exploring the research design of this study and considers the inherent gendered and other assumptions made in it, which mirrors an earlier research project on Transition to Motherhood. Following an examination of some of the methodological issues that arose during this qualitative longitudinal study, the chapter turns to reflect on the important question of what adding time into a qualitative study can do. It considers what happens when narratives collected in later interviews are incorporated into earlier analysis and findings as lives and fatherhood experiences change, as well as the benefits of researching individuals over time.


Author(s):  
Sayo O. Fakayode ◽  
Vincent Snipes ◽  
Margaret I. Kanipes ◽  
Abdul K. Mohammed ◽  
Zakiya S. Wilson

A continued decline in the student enrollment and retention and graduation rates of Underrepresented Minorities (URM) in STEM majors is a potential threat to future sustainability, viability, and competiveness of several STEM degree programs, particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The development of a broad-based and inclusive strategy to motivate, excite, retain, and graduate highly qualified URM students in STEM disciplines is therefore a national priority and is imperative for HBCUs. This book chapter highlights four major strategies including: 1) the design and implementation of new curriculum initiatives, active learning pedagogy, and other student engaging pedagogies, 2) early involvement of URM students in hands-on and guided inquiry research experiences in STEM majors, 3) establishing collaborations between HBCUs and Community Colleges, and 4) establishing strong collaborations between HBCUs and local K12 school districts to promote a grass root science education to promote a quality pipeline for HBCUs.


Author(s):  
Gita Wijesinghe Pitter ◽  
William Hudson

Increasing student retention and graduation is one of the most difficult challenges facing Traditionally Black College and University (TBCUs). This chapter examines the type of data that is generally available and useful to issues of retention, and suggests a variety of possible actions that can be undertaken to address the findings and impact retention and graduation rates. The framework of IR data and possible actions to address problems revealed by data is based on the experiences at Large State A&M University. The issues revealed are common to many TBCUs, and it is hoped that this sharing of information will assist other TBCUs in addressing the important issues of retention and graduation rates.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Basto-Pereira ◽  
Inês Queiroz-Garcia ◽  
Laura Maciel ◽  
Isabel Leal ◽  
Maria Gouveia-Pereira

This article presents an international study of pro/antisocial behavior in young adults (SOCIALDEVIANCE1820). This is an ongoing cross-continental longitudinal research project that includes data and researchers from multiple countries across five continents. It aims to explore the intercultural universality of the risk and protective factors associated with pro/antisocial behavior and psychosocial adjustment during early adulthood. Researchers from all countries involved have already translated their questionnaires, selected an appropriate team, and started the data collection process. It is expected that this intercontinental longitudinal research project will have a tremendous social and scientific impact; this study will allow researchers to overcome many limitations of previous meta-analyses, such as limiting the applicability of data to developed countries and the bias caused by combining different assessment methods. Challenges in implementing cross-national studies, and the importance of this type of study to global policies, are discussed.


2002 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 65-76
Author(s):  
Roel van Steensel

In order to prepare children from disadvantaged backgrounds for primary education, early intervention programs are used. Generally, a distinction is made between two types of intervention activities: those which are conducted at home (family-based activities) and those which are conducted in, for example, preschools (center-based activities). This research project tries to establish whether there is a relation between participation in early intervention activities and the educational achievements of 119 pupils from the cities of Tilburg and Waalwijk. A comparison is made between four groups of children: a group that took part in the family-based program Opstap Opnieuw, a group that went to preschool, a group that did both, and a control group. The performances of these four groups are followed during the first years of primary education. In addition, an estimate is made of the influence of family characteristics on the effectiveness of both types of intervention activities.


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