RAPID: Decision-Making Processes in STEM Students during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

历史上一直是黑人的学院和大学本科课程支持在数据、设施或专业设备的可用性或访问方面存在严重紧迫性时的快速项目，包括对自然灾害或人为灾难以及类似的意外事件(如新冠肺炎大流行)的快速反应研究。北卡罗来纳农工州立大学的这个项目寻求开发理论来解释和预测在大流行期间和之后学习科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)领域的学生的决策过程。这些理论将指导和改变高等教育机构在未来全球灾难中的适应和恢复能力。提高机构的复原力将最大限度地减少对STEM学生功能和表现的干扰，减少人员流失，并加强进入STEM劳动力队伍的进程。本研究以本科生为研究对象，构建实证理论来解释和预测STEM本科生在疫情期间的认知即兴决策过程。以关键事件和符号互动论为重点的建构主义基础理论方法将允许使用迭代和归纳的数据收集过程，同时进行分析和解释。方法论三角测量将包括通过访谈、调查和从六个机构的STEM学生、教师和管理人员那里获得的学术成绩单获得的基本数据。涌现代码的比较和迭代合成将提供对学生特征、生活体验、认知即兴决策和新冠肺炎大流行期间STEM表现之间存在的互动的见解。实质性的理论将指导和改变高等教育机构在未来全球灾难中的适应和恢复能力。提高机构复原力将最大限度地减少对STEM绩效的干扰，减少STEM人员流失，并加强学生进入STEM劳动力队伍的进程。理论还将推动与其他背景下的认知决策过程相关的研究和实践，特别是其他高风险灾难。这一快速奖项由历史上的黑人学院和大学-教育和人力资源局人力资源发展司本科生项目颁发，资金来自冠状病毒援助、救济和经济安全(CARE)法案。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program supports RAPID projects when there is a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to, data, facilities or specialized equipment, including quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and similar unanticipated events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The project at North Carolina A&T State University seeks to develop theories that explain and predict decision making processes in students studying in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields during and after pandemics. These theories will inform and transform the adaptation and resiliency of Institutions of Higher Education during future global disasters. Improved institutional resiliency will minimize disruptions to STEM student functioning and performance, reduce attrition, and strengthen progression into the STEM workforce. Undergraduate students are involved as researchers in this project.Substantive theories will be constructed to explain and predict cognitive improvisation decision making processes in undergraduate STEM students during pandemics. A constructivist grounded theory approach with critical incident and symbolic interactionist emphasis will allow the use of iterative and inductive processes of data collection with simultaneous analysis and interpretation. Methodological triangulation will involve primary data obtained through interviews, surveys, and academic transcripts from STEM students, faculty, and administrators in six institutions. The comparative and iterative synthesis of emergent codes will provide insights into interactions existing among student characteristics, lived experiences, cognitive improvisation decisions, and STEM performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Substantive theories will inform and transform the adaptation and resiliency of institutions of higher education during future global disasters. Improved institutional resiliency will minimize disruptions to STEM performance, reduce STEM attrition, and strengthen student progression into the STEM workforce. Theories will also advance research and practice related to cognitive decision-making processes in other contexts, particularly other high risk disasters.This RAPID award is made by the Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program in the Division of Human Resource Development, Directorate of Education and Human Resources, using funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.