Thesis
An exploration of the personal epistemologies of undergraduate civil engineering students
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/104430
Abstract
Although limited research has been done concerning student personal epistemologies (PE) and science disciplines, specifically engineering, existing research has shown that personal epistemology for a domain is highly dependent on the domain of knowledge being examined. To fill this gap, this study examines the personal epistemologies of sophomore level Civil Engineering students. Fourteen students participated in hour-long, semi-structured interviews during the middle and end of their sophomore year. The clinical interview protocol was developed by a multidisciplinary team of PE experts to elicit direct responses about personal epistemology within the domain of Civil Engineering and the dimensions framework developed by the research team. This study found that participants believed that engineering knowledge is interrelated with non-engineering knowledge, implying that they can more easily integrate related knowledge into their engineering problem solving. Participants also expressed the belief that engineering knowledge is certain. Many participants were more inclined to use their own experiences and opinions to evaluate their knowledge, if evaluating it at all, rather than employ an external method of justification. Research data supports each of the dimensions posited in the theoretical framework as all students gave responses that highlighted beliefs within each of the dimensions. This is evidence that the dimensions are applicable within the specific domain of engineering, in addition to the broader context of domain-general knowledge. It also highlights consist, longitudinal beliefs that Civil Engineering knowledge is both certain and external to the knower, which could prove challenging for students as they progress through engineering design coursework and into engineering practice. This points to a need for future research examining how students' personal epistemologies manifest and impact them as they progress as students and as they begin engineering practice.
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Details
- Title
- An exploration of the personal epistemologies of undergraduate civil engineering students
- Creators
- Nadia Leneve Lustig Frye
- Contributors
- William F. Cofer (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525114901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis