Mental Models of STS Issues: A Comparison of Engineering and Humanities Students

为了满足公众对技术知识的需求， 对于受过技术训练的人来说， 如果能提供有关价值观的信息， 知识已经掌握的人谁是进一步教育。 几乎没有任何经验数据的价值和 本科生进入课程的相关知识，如 作为STS课程，旨在培养这些读写能力。 的 因此，课程是由专家们综合而成的 和导师，最多， 学生发现自己的起点。 这 研究项目解决了对经验数据的需要， 对STS问题的理解， 工程专业的本科生都来修这些课程。 通过 采访工程和人文学科的本科生 也是STS研究的专家，研究人员将收集 数据开始，以阐明学生在STS的需求 课程 这些发现对于获得一个 对如何研究这些问题有了更清晰的认识， 一个更全面的方法，更少的未经检验的假设。 调查结果将分发给那些可以利用 他们在STS和工程课程，并向更广泛的观众， 好. 调查人员非常合格;机构 资源很好;问题很重要;结果将 适当传播。 该项目是有价值的， 建议奖励。

In addressing the need for a technologically literate public and for technically trained people sensitive to the social context, it would be useful to have information about the values and knowledge already had by people who are to be further educated. There is scarcely any empirical data about the values and relevant knowledge with which undergraduates enter courses, such as STS courses, intended to foster these kinds of literacy. The courses, therefore, derive from a synthesis formed by specialists and instructors and, at best, superficial generalizations about the starting points at which students find themselves. This research project addresses the need for empirical data about the understanding of STS issues with which both humanities and engineering undergraduates come into these courses. By interviewing undergraduates from engineering and the humanities and also specialists in STS studies, the researchers will gather data to begin to shed light on the needs of students in STS courses. The findings will also be valuable for gaining a clearer understanding of how to go about studying these issues in a more comprehensive way, less burdened by untested assumptions. The findings will be disseminated to those who can make use of them in STS and engineering courses, and to wider audiences as well. The investigators are very well qualified; the institutional resources are very good; the issues are important; results will be appropriately disseminated. The project is meritorious and recommended for award.