Research Problem

1. Research Problem Effective methods that can be used in a classroom laboratory setting need to be developed to train students in scientific writing and communication, since not all students have the opportunity to develop these skills through undergraduate independent research experiences.

2. Research Question • When presented the same guided writing approach in a laboratory class, some students’ scientific writing skills improve while other students’ scientific writing skills do not; how are these two groups different? • Context: • BIOL 252: Cell Biology Laboratory • Three sections; maximum enrollment = 24 students/section • Mixed population of sophomores, juniors, and seniors (more sophomores and juniors) • Biology majors; pre-health students

3. Research Methods • Data-mine general class characteristics • GPA • Major • Past science coursework • ACT/SAT Collect writing samples • Pre-class survey • General motivation toward learning • Writing reflection • Attitudes toward science writing • Post-class survey • General motivation toward learning • Writing reflection • Attitudes toward science writing • Post-class data analysis • Evaluate papers and form groups • Align survey/reflection data with groups • Post-class follow-up • Interviews to further probe differences seen in survey

4. Alignment of Research Question and Methods Research question focuses on characterizing effective vs. ineffective writers. • Data mining… • provides general characteristics of class • Analysis of assignment… • defines two groups of writers • Pre/post learning motivation survey… • information on learning motivation • information on if there is a change in learning motivation over the semester • Pre/post writing reflection… • information on attitudes toward/understanding of scientific writing • information on if there is a change in attitude/understanding over the semester