Previous studies have shown a correlation between a student’s ability to accurately predict their level of preparedness for class and actual class performance.  Class performance is negatively impacted by inaccurate predictions as students haven’t recognized their level of preparation.  In this study, first semester chemistry students are surveyed across a broad range of categories relating to their perceived level of preparedness including predictions of their test scores, comfort with individual topics, and study time. These surveys are disbursed and collected before each examination time for that class.  Responses are analyzed to identify what impacts inaccurate predictions and, therefore, low performance. Specific attention is given to students’ comfort with individual topics vs. their actual performance on those topics. Additionally, students were surveyed on demographics, study habits, and perceptions of their chemistry experiences before and after taking the course.

Optimistic student predictions vs. reality in first semester chemistry

255th National Meeting (2018)

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