Maps of meaning: journeys of first year engineering students. (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kopparla, Mahati; Nguyen, Trang T.; Woltering, Steven
• Is Part Of: European journal of engineering education. Volume 47:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 930
• Page End: 949
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: Engineering retention -- STEM -- narrative analysis -- persistance -- engineering education; Engineering -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 620.007114
• DOI: 10.1080/03043797.2022.2037522
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3797

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Undergraduate STEM retention has been a longstanding concern. Specifically, majors such as engineering have experienced a high dropout rate consistently in the past several decades. This study is aimed at understanding factors contributing to making the engineering major challenging, and individual factors that help first-year engineering students persevere in the major. Eight first-year engineering students participated in the study by completing an illustrated road map sketch of their first-year experiences and a semi-structured interview. All participants considered the engineering major challenging due to the amount of time and effort required to be successful in the courses. Being academically underprepared for first-year courses was a drawback, but only some participants were discouraged by the academic challenges. Most importantly, students' perception of academic and social fit within the major influenced their self-efficacy, help-seeking behaviour, and intent to persist.