Quantitative Research Methods for STEM Education Scholars Program

该项目得到了EHR核心研究：STEM教育研究能力建设（ECR: BCSER）竞赛的支持，该竞赛旨在培养在STEM学习和学习环境中开展高质量基础STEM教育研究的个人能力，扩大STEM领域的参与，以及STEM劳动力的发展。该研究所包括对两组20名定量研究方法（QRM）学者进行为期一年的培训，其中包括为期一周的研究设计、分析、测量等基本问题的强化培训，随后是现场合作活动，以及与指定的方法导师和研究生辅导员的会议。为期一年的互动包括直播研讨会和社交网络基础设施，以提高参与者在STEM教育研究的设计和执行方面的技能，并从他们的方法导师和QRM学者指定的当地内容领域导师那里获得反馈，作为他们申请的一部分。每位QRM学者在接受指导的一年中，将被要求从事一项拟议的研究/活动，这可能与其他学者合作。这一年的体验的一个关键组成部分将是一个独特的电子社交基础设施平台（例如WhatsApp， Facebook Group）。这一年将以顶点会议结束，届时学者们将展示他们过去一年的工作。从第二年开始，该会议还将召集下一年的学者（在此期间，每位新学者将与一位“毕业”学者进行匹配，以建立联系）。鉴于某些群体在STEM学习和职业课程中的个人代表性持续不足，以及对不同教育水平的数学和科学成就差距的担忧，该计划将针对早期职业学者（在获得博士学位的五年内），研究重点是在K-12或高等教育环境中，STEM中代表性不足的人群的准入和公平问题。解决与群体比较相关的研究问题的设计和分析方法是解决公平问题的研究重点，将在为期一周的研究所和一年的互动中发挥特殊作用。两组40名QRM学者的STEM教育研究将在研究设计、测量方法和数据分析方法方面进行严格的研究。每位学者的工作将对STEM教育机会、成就差距和劳动力多样性等问题的文献做出有价值和直接的贡献，但作为该计划的一部分，QRM学者将为未来几年制定一个可行的、可资助的议程，以确保他们继续对该领域做出高水平的贡献。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识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 project is supported through the EHR Core Research: Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR: BCSER) competition that is designed to build individual capacity to carry out high quality fundamental STEM education research in STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM fields, and STEM workforce development. This research institute involves a year-long training of two cohorts of 20 Quantitative Research Methods (QRM) Scholars via a one-week intensive institute on fundamental issues in research design, analysis, measurement, followed by onsite collaborative activities, and meetings with their assigned methods mentor and graduate student facilitator. Year-long interactions include live-stream workshops and a social network infrastructure to improve participant's skills in design and execution of research in STEM Education, with feedback from their methods mentor and a local content area mentor designated by the QRM Scholars as part of their application. Each QRM Scholar will be expected to work on a proposed study/activity during the year while they are being mentored, this may be in collaboration with other Scholars. A key component of this year-long experience will be a unique platform of electronic social infra-structure (e.g. WhatsApp, Facebook Group). The year will culminate with a capstone conference, wherein the Scholars present their work from the past year. Starting in year 2, this conference will also serve as the convening of the next year's Scholars (during which each new Scholar will be matched with a 'graduating' Scholar for networking).Given the persistent underrepresentation of individuals from certain groups in STEM courses of study and careers, as well as concerns about achievement gaps in math and sciences across educational levels, this program will target early career scholars (within five years of their doctoral degree) with research foci on issues of access and equity of underrepresented populations in STEM within either K-12 or postsecondary settings. The design and analysis approaches to address research questions related to group comparisons, a key focus of studies to address equity, will play a special role during the week-long institute and the year of interaction. The STEM Education research of the 40 QRM Scholars over the two cohorts will be made rigorous in terms of study design, methods of measurement, and data analytical approaches. Each Scholar's work will make valuable and immediate contributions to the literature around issues such as STEM Education access, achievement gaps, and workforce diversity, but as part of the program, the QRM Scholars will develop a viable and fundable agenda for the coming years to ensure their continued high-level contributions to the field.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.