Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors
Undergraduate student participation in course-based research experiences results in many positive outcomes, but there is a lack of evidence demonstrating which elements of a research experience are necessary, especially for non-biology majors. Broad relevance is one element that can be logistically...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| Online Access: | https://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/2167 |
| _version_ | 1818330162975997952 |
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| author | Sadie Hebert Jessamina Blum Deena Wassenberg David Marks Kate Barry Sehoya Cotner |
| author_facet | Sadie Hebert Jessamina Blum Deena Wassenberg David Marks Kate Barry Sehoya Cotner |
| author_sort | Sadie Hebert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Undergraduate student participation in course-based research experiences results in many positive outcomes, but there is a lack of evidence demonstrating which elements of a research experience are necessary, especially for non-biology majors. Broad relevance is one element that can be logistically challenging to incorporate into research experiences in large-enrollment courses. We investigated the impacts of broad relevance in a short-term research experience in an introductory biology course for non-majors. Students either participated in an open-inquiry research experience (OI‑RE) where students developed their own research question, or a broadly relevant research experience (BR-RE) where students investigated a question assigned to them that was relevant to an ongoing research project. We found a significant association between the type of research project experienced and students’ preference for an experience with half of the students in the OI-RE group and nearly all students in the BR-RE group preferring a broadly relevant research experience. However, since science confidence increased over the course for both groups, these findings indicate that while students who participated in a BR-RE valued it, broadly relevant research experiences may not be necessary for positive outcomes for non-majors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:59:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a57b8e21481e4c499962c2d02ea91f8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-7877 1935-7885 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:59:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-a57b8e21481e4c499962c2d02ea91f8e2022-12-21T23:45:04ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852021-01-0122110.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2167Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology MajorsSadie Hebert0Jessamina Blum1Deena Wassenberg2David Marks3Kate Barry4Sehoya Cotner5University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaUndergraduate student participation in course-based research experiences results in many positive outcomes, but there is a lack of evidence demonstrating which elements of a research experience are necessary, especially for non-biology majors. Broad relevance is one element that can be logistically challenging to incorporate into research experiences in large-enrollment courses. We investigated the impacts of broad relevance in a short-term research experience in an introductory biology course for non-majors. Students either participated in an open-inquiry research experience (OI‑RE) where students developed their own research question, or a broadly relevant research experience (BR-RE) where students investigated a question assigned to them that was relevant to an ongoing research project. We found a significant association between the type of research project experienced and students’ preference for an experience with half of the students in the OI-RE group and nearly all students in the BR-RE group preferring a broadly relevant research experience. However, since science confidence increased over the course for both groups, these findings indicate that while students who participated in a BR-RE valued it, broadly relevant research experiences may not be necessary for positive outcomes for non-majors.https://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/2167 |
| spellingShingle | Sadie Hebert Jessamina Blum Deena Wassenberg David Marks Kate Barry Sehoya Cotner Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| title | Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors |
| title_full | Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors |
| title_fullStr | Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors |
| title_short | Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors |
| title_sort | open inquiry versus broadly relevant short term research experiences for non biology majors |
| url | https://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/2167 |
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