Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Self-efficacy, an important aspect of student motivation and a strong determiner of student achievement, was investigated within college level introductory geology labs. Self-efficacy refers to a student’s confidence in their ability to successfully complete a given task. It in turns influences student interest, values, persistence and other measures of motivation. Motivation within geology courses is an understudied area of research, thus this evaluation of self-efficacy intervention attempts to fill in the gap by answering the following question: what is the effect of a self-efficacy intervention in the introductory geology labs on the 1) motivation and 2) academic performance of students. Six measures of motivation were studies: utility value, cost value, self-efficacy, interest, persistence, and theory of ability. Additionally, it was hypothesized that persistence and interest would increase as a result of the intervention. Two lab sections were studied: one acted as a control group and the other acted as the intervention group. The intervention took place in one lab period, Lab 7: the Geologic Maps Lab, and consisted of a coping peer model of the lab activities. Pre and post adapted MSLQ surveys measured changes in motivation and pre and post content assessments determined changes in student achievement. Both surveys and assessments were given electronically through Qualtrics. As expected, results revealed a significant increase in achievement between pre and post treatment in both the control and intervention groups as subject mastery improved. Furthermore, persistence increased significantly in the intervention group, indicating students in the intervention group were more likely to persist within the geology department than those in the control group. Gender differences in er of motivation were also observed. Males in the intervention group showed higher interest in geology and higher cost value after treatment.
Date Awarded
2016
Department
Geology
Advisor 1
Heather MacDonald
Advisor 2
Jason A. Chen
Recommended Citation
Stuhlmuller, Blair, "A Self-Efficacy Intervention in Introduction Geology Labs: Increasing Motivation in Introductory Geology Students" (2016). Geology Senior Theses. William & Mary. Paper 379.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/geologyseniors/379
