The Effect of Virtual Labs on High School Student Attitudes Towards Chemistry

Author

Emily KoehlerFollow

Date of Award

Fall 12-16-2021

Document Type

Project (696 or 796 registration)

Degree Name

Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction

Department

Graduate Studies

Committee Chair

Ximena Suarez-Sousa

Keywords

survey, virtual laboratory, chemistry education, attitude

Abstract

This mixed-methods action research project evaluated high school chemistry student attitudes towards chemistry before and after the students completed a virtual laboratory. Students were surveyed by utilizing the Attitude Toward the Subject of Chemistry Inventory (Bauer, 2008) and a random sample of students were interviewed by the author. Survey scores in five subscales (emotional satisfaction, anxiety, intellectual accessibility, interest and utility, and fear) were compared through statistical analysis of mean, standard deviation, and t-test. Student attitudes were not significantly different before and after the virtual laboratory experience but did show a general decrease in perceptions of interest and utility of chemistry. Themes in the interviews showed that students enjoyed the lab experience. Students also felt that they learned a chemistry concept but did not express a change in attitude toward chemistry. The results of the action research show that the use of virtual labs in a chemistry classroom and student attitudes towards chemistry should continue to be evaluated.

Recommended Citation

Koehler, Emily, "The Effect of Virtual Labs on High School Student Attitudes Towards Chemistry" (2021). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 540.
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/540