Development and Validation of the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics

TL;DR

The paper introduces the E-CLASS survey designed to measure and improve students' attitudes towards experimental physics in undergraduate labs, providing valuable feedback for course enhancement.

Contribution

It presents the development, validation, and initial implementation results of a new survey tool for assessing student attitudes in physics labs.

Findings

E-CLASS effectively measures attitude changes

Survey correlates attitudes with course practices

Initial data shows positive attitude shifts

Abstract

As part of a comprehensive effort to transform our undergraduate physics laboratories and evaluate the impacts of these efforts, we have developed the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics (E-CLASS). The E-CLASS assesses the changes in students' attitudes about a variety of scientific laboratory practices before and after a lab course and compares attitudes with perceptions of the course grading requirements and laboratory practices. The E-CLASS is designed to give researchers insight into students' attitudes and also to provide actionable evidence to instructors looking for feedback on their courses. We present the development, validation, and preliminary results from the initial implementation of the survey in three undergraduate physics lab courses.