Lauren Dudley
Email: pagel@chapman.edu
College: Schmid College of Science and Technology
Department: Chemistry
Overview of scholarly research/creative activity: My research involves understanding how current pedagogical approaches in foundational chemistry courses (general and organic) affect student self-efficacy. I use both qualitative and quantitative instruments and methodologies to assess and enhance student success in STEM bases undergraduate fields.
Specific projects working on: Assessing Student Understanding of Foundational Concepts before Organic Chemistry: Chemistry is the foundational course for any science major, as well as many post-baccalaureate programs. I am working on a project that explores student understanding of foundational concepts in general chemistry to develop a distractor-driven assessment instrument. Chemistry was chosen due to its high impact and high failure rates for higher education students entering the premedical, pharmaceutical, and STEM fields. By understanding student conceptions and misconceptions, an assessment instrument can be developed. This instrument may have the ability to assess student understanding prior to entering foundational courses so faculty can better assist and educate students. The instrument may also be utilized for post-testing purposes to see achievement. Through online interviews and observations, students who have successfully completed general chemistry will be asked to explain certain foundational topics and describe their understanding of chemistry-related concepts. The purpose of developing this instrument is the ability to identify misconceptions in students before entering organic chemistry and assess if those misconceptions have any affect on their self-efficacy throughout the course.
Number of students looking to work with: 3-4
Time commitment for students: meet once a week, expected 1-2 hours per week
When students are needed: Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021
What would students be expected to do: Literature research, study design, analysis of data, development of instrumentation
Additional Information: This research is unique in that it has a science education focus. Our "research lab" is the classroom and we branch out in hopes to incorporate education research and science research together into a holistic view of student success in higher education STEM fields.