Schools of all backgrounds can do physics research: On the accessibility and equity of the PRiSE approach to independent research projects

TL;DR

The PRiSE programme demonstrates that diverse and disadvantaged schools can successfully engage in independent physics research, emphasizing support, researcher involvement, and communication as key to equitable science education.

Contribution

This study shows that the PRiSE framework promotes inclusivity and success across diverse school backgrounds, challenging assumptions about barriers to independent research in education.

Findings

PRiSE engages more diverse and disadvantaged schools than typical schemes.

No systematic bias in school drop-off or repeated participation based on societal inequalities.

Teacher feedback highlights support and researcher involvement as crucial for success.

Abstract

Societal biases are a major issue in school students' access to and interaction with science. Schools engagement programmes in science from universities, like independent research projects, which could try and tackle these problems are, however, often inequitable. We evaluate these concerns applied to one such programme, `Physics Research in School Environments' (PRiSE), which features projects in space science, astronomy, and particle physics. Comparing the schools involved with PRiSE to those of other similar schemes and UK national statistics, we find that PRiSE has engaged a much more diverse set of schools with significantly more disadvantaged groups than is typical. While drop-off occurs within the protracted programme, we find no evidence of systematic biases present. The majority of schools that complete projects return for multiple years of the programme, with this repeated buy-in from schools again being unpatterned by typical societal inequalities. Therefore, schools' ability to succeed at independent research projects appears independent of background within the PRiSE framework. Qualitative feedback from teachers show that the diversity and equity of the programme, which they attribute to the level of support offered through PRiSE's framework, is valued and they have highlighted further ways of making the projects potentially even more accessible. Researcher-involvement, uncommon in many other programmes, along with teacher engagement and communication are found to be key elements to success in independent research projects overall.