PhD GTA Funded Studentship in “Effectiveness and Affective Value of Undergraduate Practical Work in Biology, Chemistry and Physics Laboratories.”

Whilst many within the science education community see practical work carried out by undergraduate students as an essential feature of degree level education there has been little research about its effectiveness and affective value as a teaching and learning strategy. This PhD will explore the issue of the effectiveness of practical work by analysing a sample of undergraduate biology, chemistry and physics laboratory sessions across years 1, 2 and 3. Data collection will involve a range of approaches including observational field notes, tape-recorded interviews with teachers and students, and questionnaires. It is envisaged that the researcher will analyse the data using a model of effectiveness based on a similar model to that which has been used in a study of practical work in secondary schools (see Abrahams, 2009; Abrahams & Millar, 2008).

The affective value of undergraduate practical work - the term ‘affective’ is used here to refer to the emotions, or feelings, engendered amongst students towards undergraduate laboratory work – will be collected using a range of approaches including tape-recorded interviews and observational field notes within the same sample of undergraduate laboratories across years 1, 2 and 3.

The Heads of the Schools of biology, chemistry and physics at the University of Lincoln are all keen to facilitate this research and so access to laboratory sessions will not be an issue. The researcher may, if they so wish, broaden the study to include science laboratories at other universities.

The successful candidate will investigate the effectiveness of practical work in terms of developing students’ conceptual understanding along with its affective value in terms of motivation, personal and situational interest across 1st, 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate biology, chemistry and physics laboratories. Applicants from education, biology, chemistry, physics or related areas are all eligible to apply.

Start date 2nd October 2017
Duration: 36 months
Reference: COSS2017-6
www.lincoln.ac.uk/studentships

Academic Contact
Prof Ian Abrahams
01522 837060
[Email Address Removed]

Entry requirements
Applicants from education, biology, chemistry, physics or related areas are all eligible to apply.

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant area. Applicants with a relevant Masters are particularly welcome. Applicants should possess excellent report writing and English language communication skills and an ability to work to deadlines. Suitably qualified candidates worldwide may apply, although International students must self-fund the difference between the International and UK/EU fee rate.

The studentship requires up to 6 hours of teaching or related work to be conducted per week, the income from which will go towards the cost of tuition fees and any surplus fees will be paid by the College.

An application of a 1-page CV, and 1-page covering letter including a brief insight into the research topic area, should be e-mailed to Maureen Young [Email Address Removed].

Closing Date: 31st January 2017
Interviews: w/b 20 February 2017