Students' Characteristics Behind Their Science-Related Engagement

• In Event: Exploring Students' Perceptions of Value, Relevance, and Interest in STEM Contexts

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a study where students’ situational engagement was measured using experience sampling method (ESM) and general engagement using a background questionnaire. The goal of this paper is to examine characteristics that may lay behind students’ engagement by observing two groups: students who are engaged and students who are not engaged. Overall, 260 students from the United States and 182 students from Finland participated to the study. Results indicate that the value of science learning correlates with situational engagement in science learning. However, students’ self-efficacy and gender did not correlate with the situational engagement. This study, especially ESM measurements, offer new information about engagement, especially of female students’ engagement in science learning.

Authors

• Janna Inkinen, University of Helsinki

• Jari Lavonen, University of Helsinki