Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

Importance of Academic Legacy on Student Success in First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry

G. Robert Shelton 1,
Adrian Villalta-Cerdas 2,
Ben Jang 3,
Anton Dubrovskiy 4,
Blain Mamiya 5,
Rebecca Weber 6,
Susan Broadway 6,
Vickie Williamson 7,
Cynthia Powell 8,
Diana Mason 6 *
1 Texas A&M University - San Antonio2 Sam Houston State University3 Texas A&M University - Commerce4 University of Houston – Clear Lake5 Texas State University6 University of North Texas7 Texas A&M University8 Abilene Christian University* Corresponding Author
Download PDF
Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2023, pp. 121-148
OPEN ACCESS VIEWS: 1093 DOWNLOADS: 554 Publication date: 15 Sep 2023
ABSTRACT
This investigation sought to elucidate the influence of students' academic legacy on their prior knowledge and course outcomes providing crucial insights for educators who teach general chemistry. This six-semester analysis involved 6,914 students enrolled in classes across nine Texas universities. Explored were personal circumstances associated with students' successes and failures that influenced performance in on- and off-sequence, first- and second-semester general chemistry (Chem 1 and Chem 2). Students' academic legacy based on their categorization as first generation (neither grandparent nor parent/guardian with a 4-year bachelor's degree), second generation (at least one grandparent or parent/guardian with a bachelor's degree), or third generation (at least one grandparent and at least one parent/guardian hold a bachelor's degree) was investigated. Of the students in the dataset 33.8% (n = 2,340) self-identified as Hispanic. Results for Hispanic and non-Hispanic students indicated that first-generation students struggled more with Chem 1 and Chem 2 than students in the other two legacy groups. As students' academic legacy extended, they were more apt to succeed in general chemistry. Second- and third-generation students demonstrated stronger prior high-school chemistry backgrounds and were enrolled in more advanced mathematics courses. As expected, students with stronger academic backgrounds in chemistry and mathematics scored higher on the diagnostic MUST (Math-Up Skills Test), had greater self-efficacy relative to their preparation to succeed, and reported fewer paid work hours. First-generation students on the average entered with lower diagnostic MUST scores, felt less prepared to succeed, and disclosed a greater need to be employed.
KEYWORDS
higher education, diagnostic testing, general chemistry, mathematics/automaticity, ethnicity, academic legacy
CITATION (APA)
Shelton, G. R., Villalta-Cerdas, A., Jang, B., Dubrovskiy, A., Mamiya, B., Weber, R., Broadway, S., Williamson, V., Powell, C., & Mason, D. (2023). Importance of Academic Legacy on Student Success in First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 6(3), 121-148. https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.631
REFERENCES
  1. ACS NEWS. (2000). Chemical & Engineering News Archive 2000, 78(23), 77.
  2. Albaladejo, J. D. P., Broadway, S., Mamiya, B., Petros, A., Powell, C. B., Shelton, G. R., Walker, D. R., Weber, R., Williamson, V. M., & Mason, D. (2018). ConfChem Conference on Mathematics in Undergraduate Chemistry Instruction: MUST-know pilot study—Math preparation study from Texas. Journal of Chemical Education, 95(8), 1428-1429. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00096
  3. Alivio, T. E. G., Howard, E. H., Mamiya, B., & Williamson, V. M. (2020). How does a math review impact a student’s arithmetic skills and performance in first-semester general chemistry? Journal of Science Education and Technology, 29(6), 703-712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-020-09851-7
  4. Baker, A. T., & Cuevas, J. (2018). The importance of automaticity development in mathematics. Georgia Educational Researcher, 14(2), 11-23.
  5. Bodenstedt, K., Dubrovskiy, A., Lee, K., Rix, B., & Mason, D. (2022). Impact of students’ automaticity ability on their success in O-chem I. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 42(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.26717/BJSTR.2022.42.00670 https://biomedres.us/pdfs/BJSTR.MS.ID.006700.pdf
  6. Dubrovskiy, A., Broadway, S., Jang, B., Mamiya, B., Powell, C. B., Shelton, G. R., Walker, D. R., Weber, R., Williamson, V., Villalta-Cerdas, A., & Mason, D. (2022). Is the gender gap closing? Journal of Research in Science Mathematics and Technology Education, 5(1), 47-68 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.512
  7. Excelencia in Education (2021). A Texas briefing on 25 years of HSIs. https://www.edexcelencia.org/25yrs-HSIs-Texas
  8. Ford, R., Broadway, S., & Mason, D. (2023). e-Homework and motivation for students’ success in first-semester general chemistry. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 32(3), 433-443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-023-10036-1
  9. Gay, G. (2018). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research, and practice (3rd ed.), Teachers College Press.
  10. Habley, W. R., Bloom, J. L., & Robbins, S. (2012). Increasing Persistence: Research-based Strategies for College Student Success. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publish by Jossey-Bass: p 512.
  11. Hartman, J. R., & Nelson, E. A. (2016). Automaticity in computation and student success in introductory physical science courses. arXiv e-prints [Online]. Retrieved from https://arxiv.org/abs/1608.05006
  12. HACU. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. (2023). https://www.hacu.net/hacu/default.asp
  13. Hovey, N. W., & Krohn, A. (1958). Predicting failures in general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 35(10), 507. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed035p507
  14. Johnston, C. (2017). Texas Exes Chapter & Networks Leadership Conference. Mason, D., Ed. The University of Texas at Austin.
  15. Lee, K. S., Rix, B., & Spivey, M. Z. (2022). Predictions of success in organic chemistry based on a mathematics skills test and academic achievement. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 24, 176-191. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RP00140C
  16. Legg, J. C., Greenbowe, T. J., & Legg, M. J. (2001). Analysis of success in general chemistry based on diagnostic testing using logistic regression. Journal of Chemical Education, 78(8), 1117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed078p1117
  17. Mamiya, B., Powell, C. B., Shelton, G. R., Dubrovskiy, A., Villalta-Cerdas, A., Broadway, S., Weber, R., & Mason, D. (2022). Influence of environmental factors on success of at-risk Hispanic students in first-semester general chemistry. Journal of College Science Teaching, 51(4), 46-57.
  18. Martin, F. D. (1942). A diagnostic and remedial study of failures in freshman chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 19(6), 274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed019p274
  19. Mason, D., & Mittag, K. C. (2001). Evaluating success of Hispanic-surname students in first-semester general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 78(2), 256-259. https://doi.org/10.1021/ed078p256 [Correction: Journal of Chemical Education, 78(12), 1597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed078p256]
  20. Mason, D., & Shelton, G. R. (2023). Predictability of the MUST (Math-Up Skills Test). African Journal of Chemical Education, Special Issue: Lecture Series from ACRICE-5, 13(2), 70-92.
  21. Mauri, M., Elli, T., Caviglia, G., Uboldi, G., & Azzi, M. (2017). RAWGraphs: A visualisation platform to create open outputs. In proceeding of the 12th Biannual Conference on Italian SIGCHI Chapter (p. 28: 1-28:5). New York, NY, USA: ACM. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3125571.3125585
  22. McGee, K. (2019). Looking at higher education funding in Texas - and how we got here Alcalde [Online]. https://tinyurl.com/y2cvpnw8
  23. McFate, C., & Olmsted, J. (1999). Assessing student preparation through placement tests. Journal of Chemical Education, 76(4), 562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed076p562
  24. Mittag, K. C, & Mason, D. S. (1999). Cultural factors in science education: Variables affecting achievement. Journal of College Science Teaching, 28(5), 307-310.
  25. Petros, A., Weber, R., Broadway, S., Ford, R., Powell, C., Hunter, K., Williamson, V., Walker, D., Mamiya, B., Del Pilar, J., Shelton, G.R., & Mason, D. MUST-Know pilot—Math preparation study from Texas. ACS DivCHED CCCE (Committee on Computers in Chemical Education) online conference organized by Cary Kilner and Eric Nelson: Week 1B: October 23–October 29, 2017. Retrieved from DOI: https://confchem.ccce.divched.org/content/2017fallconfchemp2
  26. Powell, C., & Mason, D. (2021). Pre-med major and automaticity ability. Biomed Journal of Scientific & Technical Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26717/BJSTR.2021.38.006216
  27. Powell, C. M., Simpson, J., Williamson, V. M., Dubrovskiy, A., Walker, D. R., Jang, B., Shelton, G. R., & Mason, D. (2020). Impact of arithmetic automaticity on students' success in second-semester general chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 21, 1028-1041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RP00006J
  28. Reardon, R. F., Traverse, M. A., Feakes, D. A., Gibbs, K. A., Rohde, R. E. (2010). Discovering the determinants of chemistry course perceptions in undergraduate students. Journal of Chemical Education, 87(6), 643-646. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed100198r
  29. Rowe, M. B. (1983). Getting chemistry off the killer course list. Journal of Chemical Education, 60(11), 954. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed060p954
  30. Shell, D. F., Brooks, D. W., Trainin, G., Wilson, K. M., Kauffman, D.F, & Herr, L. M. (2010). The unified learning model. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.
  31. Shelton, G. R., Mamiya, B., Weber, R., Walker, D. R., Powell, C. B., Jang, B., Dubrovskiy, A. V., Villalta-Cerdas, A., & Mason, D. (2021). Early warning signals from automaticity diagnostic instruments for first- and second-semester general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 98, 3061-3072. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00714
  32. Shelton, G. R., Simpson, J., & Mason, D. (2023). Identification of unsuccessful students in general chemistry. African Journal of Chemical Education, Special Issue: Lecture Series from ACRICE-5, 13(2), 137-161.
  33. THECB. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2017). 2018 Texas Public Higher Education Almanac: A Profile of State and Institutional Performance and Characteristics. Board, THECB, Ed. www.thecb.state.tx.us/almanac.
  34. THECB. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2021). 2020 Texas Public Higher Education Almanac: A Profile of State and Institutional Performance and Characteristics. Board, THECB, Ed. Retrieved from www.thecb.state.tx.us/almanac.
  35. Villalta-Cerdas, A., Dubrovskiy, A., Mamiya, B., Walker, D. R., Powell, C. B., Broadway, S., Weber, R., Shelton, G. R., & Mason, D. (2022). Personal characteristics influencing college readiness of Hispanic students in a STEM gateway course, first-semester general chemistry. Journal of College Science Teaching, 51(5), 31-41.
  36. Wagner, E. P., Sasser, H., & DiBiase, W. J. (2002). Predicting students at risk in general chemistry using pre-semester assessments and demographic information. Journal of Chemical Education, 79(6), 749. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed079p749
  37. Weber, R., Powell, C. B., Williamson, V., Mamiya, B., Walker, D. R., Dubrovskiy, A., Shelton, G. R., Villalta-Cerdas, A., Jang, B., Broadway, S., & Mason, D. (2020). Relationship between academic preparation in general chemistry and potential careers. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 32(5), 25311-25323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26717/BJSTR.2020.32.005312
  38. Wicks, A., & Pruneda, M. L. (2023, March 21). The State of Readiness: Are Texas students prepared for life after high school? Texas 2036, George W. Bush Institute. Retrieved from https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/the-state-of-readiness?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=spotlight&utm_term=05192023
  39. Wilkerson, S. L. (2008). An empirical analysis of factors that influence the first year to second year retention of students at one large, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Dissertation Texas A&M University.
  40. Williamson, V. M., Walker, D. R., Chuu, E., Broadway, S., Mamiya, B., Powell, C. B., Shelton, G. R., Weber, R., Dabney, A. R., & Mason, D. (2020). Impact of basic arithmetic skills on success in first-semester general chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 21, 51-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RP00077A
  41. Willis, W. K., Williamson, V M., Chuu, E., & Dabney, A. R. (2022). The relationship between a student’s success in first-semester general chemistry and their mathematics fluency, profile, and performance on common questions. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 31, 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-021-09927-y
LICENSE
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.