title: Investigating the Role of an Inquiry-Based Biology Lab Course on Student Attitudes and Views toward Science.
abstract: Students' academic experiences can influence their conceptualization of science. In contrast experts hold particular beliefs, perceptions, opinions, and attitudes about science that are often absent in first-year undergraduate students. Shifts toward more expert-like attitudes and views have been linked to improved student engagement, critical-thinking ability, conceptual understanding, and academic performance. In this study, we investigate shifts in attitudes and views toward science by students in four biology classes with differences in student enrollment, academic support, and instruction. We observe significant, positive effects of enrollment in a guided-inquiry lab course and academic performance on the percentage of expert-like student attitudes and views at the end of term. We also identify variation in two aspects of student attitudes and views: 1) confidence and interest and 2) understanding and acceptance. In particular, enrollment in the lab course boosts student confidence and interest in scientific inquiry in the short term, even for students with low academic performance or little English-language experience. Our results suggest that low-performing students in particular may require additional opportunities for experiential learning or greater academic support to develop expert-like perceptions of biology as a science.
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Departments of Botany and Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Departments of Botany and Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada nomme@zoology.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomme
authors.affiliation: Biology Program, Departments of Botany and Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deane
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.affiliation: Science Centre for Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Gülnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birol
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001695:Biology / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D003710:Demography; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires