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.

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

Research MethodsData-mine general class characteristics

• GPA• Major• Past science coursework• ACT/SAT

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

Collect writing samples

Alignment of Research Question and MethodsResearch 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