Numerosity perception has been studied for at least 150 years and its psychophysics have been well characterized by experimental work. However, the origins of many of its key properties remain obscure. For instance, people estimate the numerosity of small sets (up to four) much more rapidly and accurately than larger sets; people tend to…

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, correlational research study was to determine any relationships among attitude toward science, level of burnout, and intention to remain in the classroom at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Participants in the study were active secondary science teachers in Pennsylvania (n=282). Teachers…

The field of science education has long advocated for students to leave K-12 education with an appreciation for the diversity of research methods scientists employ in order to effectively engage with research generated across many scientific fields of study. Yet, research has indicated that students typically believe research proceeds according to…

Undergraduate general chemistry courses are often perceived in a negative light by students. Student attitudes towards chemistry play a significant role in their success in chemistry and retention in STEM altogether. Research has shown in K-12 classrooms that care-based instruction strategies can help to improve student attitudes towards…

The instantaneous movement of information and imagery in the current era has fundamentally altered our constructions of reality as the outer world of media becomes a central aspect of the "inner world of society" (Beck, 1996, p.1). In this vein, the very stuff that makes up knowledge, the basic building blocks of our cognition are also…

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the course, Scientific Inquiry, significantly increased the self-efficacy beliefs of its students. According to Bandura (1977), an increase in self-efficacy could increase the likelihood that teachers implement scientific inquiry in their classrooms. I explored self-efficacy in an effort to…

Educators have struggled with maintaining student engagement in science, especially as students transition from primary to middle school and upper grades (Vedder-Weiss & Fortus, 2012). A recent push in science education has been the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), released in 2013, whose development was guided by…

Educators have struggled with maintaining student engagement in science, especially as students transition from primary to middle school and upper grades (Vedder-Weiss & Fortus, 2012). A recent push in science education has been the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), released in 2013, whose development was guided by…

In response to the global crisis of type 2 diabetes prevalence, this dissertation investigated the impact of a culturally sustaining, health-centric science curriculum contextualized in type 2 diabetes. Using a case study methodology, it explored how the curriculum shaped math and science preservice teachers' (PSTs) perceptions of science and how…

This study used gain scores and linear regression equations to examine the role of race, socioeconomic status, and school control (public or Catholic/private) on student science identity growth trajectories. The participants of this study were 18,837 students who were followed from the beginning of secondary education to three years after…

This dissertation investigated the science identity development of first-generation college students (FGCS) within learning assistant (LA) -supported science classes. The research aimed to uncover the complex and multifaceted processes through which FGCS come to see themselves as "science people" and how various elements of the…

This paper describes the construct of fascination in science, a non-cognitive trait combining interest, curiosity, and mastery skills, and the particular relevance of fascination in science for students during middle school. Grounded in the theory of "Science Learning Activation" and employing data from the longitudinal Activated…

Urban middle school students in the United States have shown a declining interest in science and poorer science learning outcomes compared to the past. Museum learning experiences can potentially improve these students' interest and learning in science through interactive, personalized exhibits. This qualitative action research study asked the…

Science as White Property is a study that utilizes critical race theory to tell the counter stories of nine BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) elementary educators. Their narratives tell a story of resilience and transcendence in spite of the inequities in their K-12 science education, which were reified by their teacher education…

Children often discuss science and nature topics in their everyday conversations with their parents; however, these conversations are not always scientifically accurate. Some researchers argue that these scientifically incorrect conversations interfere with children's learning by reinforcing children's misconceptions (Shtulman, 2017). Others argue…