A study into first-year engineering education success using a rigorous mixed methods approach

M.E.D. van den Bogaard, Erik de Graaff, Alexander Verbraek

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to combine qualitative and quantitative research methods into rigorous research into student success. Research methods have weaknesses that can be overcome by clever combinations. In this paper we use a situated study into student success as an example of how methods reinforce the other. The aim of the study is to develop a model for first year engineering student success that can inform policy makers on possible effects of policies. Students from two cohorts were interviewed in two separate studies and the results were used to make a model, which in turn was tested using statistical techniques. The main elements of the model were student behaviour and student disposition, which were influenced by the students’ perceptions of the education environment. The outcomes of the qualitative studies were useful in interpreting the outcomes of the structural equation modelling.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTranslating Research into Practice : Proceedings of the REES conference
Number of pages9
Place of PublicationDublin
Publication date15 Jul 2015
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2015
EventResearch in Engineering Education Symposium - Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland
Duration: 13 Jul 201515 Jul 2015
Conference number: 6

Conference

ConferenceResearch in Engineering Education Symposium
Number6
LocationDublin Institute of Technology
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityDublin
Period13/07/201515/07/2015

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