Introductory Biology in Social Context: The Effects of an Issues-Based Laboratory Course on Biology Student Motivation.

ABSTRACT: We investigated the effects of a laboratory curriculum developed using the socio--scientific issues (SSI) framework to contextualize scientific and socially relevant issues for students. Using self-determination theory and hierarchical linear modeling, we examined the effects of the SSI curriculum relative to a control curriculum on student motivation in a large introductory biology course for life science majors. The SSI group had a significant increase in motivation for engaging in the laboratory work relative to motivation of the control group. Additionally, the SSI group showed higher levels of more autonomous forms of regulation concerning participation in laboratory tasks compared with the control group. Interestingly, the SSI-based curriculum seemed to have a buffering effect on typ

SUBMITTER: Hewitt KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6755311 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature