Cost Perception Reduction Interventions: Examining Student Text Data Using Sentiment Analysis

• In Event: Advances in Expectancy-Value-Cost Research

Abstract

Cost perception reduction interventions often involve a written reflection component, but these student-generated data have rarely been examined. This research gap is important to address given the centrality of students’ text as the intervention mechanism. We applied text analysis techniques to students’ text data to examine their emotional sentiments across emotional and effort cost conditions from a cost reduction intervention. Two waves of written responses from students in an introductory physics course at a large university (N=436) were analyzed. Findings indicated that sentiments differed across the two intervention conditions, and sentiment at the first wave was positively associated with course grade. This study extends extant intervention work to clarify differences in intervention conditions and the mechanisms behind cost reduction.

Authors

• Huy Nguyen, The Ohio State University

• Kimiko Ching, The Ohio State University

• Elise C. Allen, University of Northern Colorado

• Shirley L. Yu, The Ohio State University