A Mixed Methods Study of Transfer Students' Perceptions of an Undergraduate Summer Research Program: Exploring the Relationships Between the Program and Students' Science-Related Beliefs and Effort in the Program

Community college students who transfer to a bachelor's degree granting institution to complete degrees in science often change majors before graduation. Limited research is available on institutional support programs that target this specific population and how programs such as summer research and academic enrichment might increase their motivation to study and persist in a science major. The present study examined the relationship between participants' perceptions of their experience in a summer research program and their motivation to persist in science-related majors and career paths. Participants were community college students with an interest in pursuing a science major and career at the host university. All participants completed a 10-week residential summer apprenticeship-style research program. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys before voluntarily participating in a semi-structured interview that utilized questions adapted from the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation Inventory. The findings demonstrate the relationship between program features and participants' science-related self-efficacy, science identification, science-related goals, and effort.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Department dc:contributor.department

Education, Vocational-Technical

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Young, Denise Halsey

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Jones, Brett D.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Smith, Kimberly Simone
• Doolittle, Peter E.
• Lockee, Barbara B.

• community college transfer students
• motivation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:23461

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/96758