Interest Development via “Grand Challenges” in College Engineering Students

• In Event: Current Approaches to Interest Measurement

Abstract

This study uses Linnenbrink-Garcia et al.’s (2010) three-component measure of situational interest to evaluate an intervention to integrate real-world problems, such as making clean energy affordable, into the engineering curricula. A total of 575 (nintroductory = 499, nadvanced = 76) students were enrolled in either intervention or control classes. Analyses suggest that the treatment was effective in enhancing hold-feeling and hold-value, but only for advanced students. Situational interest was in turn associated with academic achievement and changes in individual interest. Introductory students were particularly interested in engineering; thus the intervention may have proven more effective for advanced students, who may have lost interest in engineering over time.

Authors

• Michael M. Barger, Duke University

• Tony Perez, Old Dominion University

• Michael Gustafson, Duke University

• Joseph Nadeau, Duke University

• David Schaad, Duke University

• Lisa Huettel, Duke University

• Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, Michigan State University