Design of a Research-Based Assessment for Children’s Attitudes and Motivation at Chemistry Outreach and Museum Events

Abstract

Outreach activities have been an ongoing commitment of the American Chemical Society and other scientific organizations, yet formal assessment of outcomes has been infrequent. We have designed a simple, reliable, and robust format for assessing attitudinal and motivational characteristics of participants attending informal public events that promote interest in and understanding of chemistry. In its final form, this 6-item survey can be distributed on the front and back of an 8.5 × 5.5 card (for pre-and postassessment). The form is provided in the Supporting Information and is available via ChemRxiv preprint draft

Informing the Public about Microplastics through a University and Museum Partnership

“…The survey was adapted from Holme and co-workers, who designed a survey to assess children's attitudes and motivation at museum events. 32 Briefly, this multiple-choice survey asks visitors for their age and educational level, previous knowledge of microplastics, feelings toward microplastics, feelings toward the exhibit, and likelihood to take action to decrease their impacts on environmental microplastic pollution. The results of the four nondemographic survey questions are displayed in Figure 3.…”

“…The survey consisted of seven short questions that collected information about how visitors felt about microplastics and the exhibit. The survey was adapted from Holme and co-workers, who designed a survey to assess children’s attitudes and motivation at museum events . Briefly, this multiple-choice survey asks visitors for their age and educational level, previous knowledge of microplastics, feelings toward microplastics, feelings toward the exhibit, and likelihood to take action to decrease their impacts on environmental microplastic pollution.…”

Top Tips for Designing and Managing a Public Engagement Laboratory

“…18 While the above approaches to public engagement have a variety of goals, in general, it is undertaken to provide thought provoking and inspirational science that can help change participants' perspectives and attitudes. 4,14,19 Science has fallen afoul to persistent public perceptions that it is a difficult subject area albeit with high societal importance. 8 The global scientific literature is abounded with references to the "leaky STEM pipeline" with students selectively moving away from science throughout their education, 20 a phenomenon that is more evident among women 21 and those from LGBTQ+ backgrounds.…”

“…While the model has seen high adoption, the rapid proliferation of public engagement does pose challenges with regard to institutional support. A limiting factor to the quantity and more importantly quality of public engagement is infrastructure supported by professional staff . Third level institutes often lack public-facing spaces.…”

“…Not limited to the typical view of classroom visits by scientists, public engagement approaches are diverse. Nonformal science education includes collaborations with museums and zoos . Science can also be brought to historical museums or public libraries .…”