A study of research-inspired lab experiments over a two-year period demonstrates that this new type of lab curriculum substantially improves the self-confidence and abilities of students to perform tasks related to research, including designing procedures, carrying out their experiments, then analyzing results. Women and international students showed the most improvement in self-efficacy. Outcomes were at least as good as those observed for students performing an inquiry-based lab curriculum and frequently comparable to outcomes found for students performing authentic research experiments. The implementation of research-inspired experiments in a first semester general chemistry lab was assessed using a pre-/post-semester attitudinal survey, grades, periodic opinion surveys of the curriculum, and evaluation of student performance by research faculty. In a research-inspired lab curriculum, experiments are based on research projects conducted by scientists but do not require substantial collaboration with a researcher, as is required for authentic research experiments. Therefore, this type of experiment is easier to incorporate into a general chemistry lab curriculum.

Improving general chemistry students' inquiry skills and confidence with research-inspired experiments

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.