Mindfulness to Mitigate Psychological Threat and Improve Engagement and Learning in Introductory Physics Courses
- Conditions
- Stress
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Mindfulness Training
- Registration Number
- NCT04589377
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Brief Summary
This project involves testing a brief mindfulness training program to reduce students' psychological threat and support motivation, engagement, and learning in introductory undergraduate physics courses. The investigators predict that, compared to a control condition, mindfulness training will reduce psychological threat and increase motivation, engagement, and learning in physics.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 149
- at least 18 years of age
- current University of Pittsburgh student
- fluent in written and spoken English
- enrolled in introductory physics
- self-reported psychological threat in physics
- under 18 years of age
- not a current University of Pittsburgh student
- not fluent in written and spoken English
- not enrolled in introductory physics
- does not meet self-report psychological threat in physics
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Mindfulness Training Mindfulness Training Participants receive 20 minutes of mindfulness training per day for five continuous days (Monday through Friday). Training is delivered remotely to participants' computers and smartphones.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mean differences in Physics Motivation assessed via Ecological Momentary Assessment Up to 3 days post-random assignment State motivation to do physics work, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 4. Physics motivation is calculated as an average of all items. Physics motivation ranges from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater motivation to do physics work.
Mean change in Physics Interest measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention The degree by which student's want to know or learn about physics, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 4. Physics interest is calculated as an average of all items. Physics interest ranges from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater interest in learning about physics.
Mean change in Physics Self-Efficacy measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Beliefs about the ability to perform well in physics, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 4. Physics self-efficacy is calculated as an average of all items. Physics self-efficacy ranges from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicated greater self-efficacy to perform well in physics.
Mean change in Physics Value measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Perceived value of learning physics, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Physics value is calculated as an average of all items. Physics value ranges from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater perceived value of physics learning.
Mean change in Physics Belonging measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Student's sense of belonging in their physics course, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 5. Physics belonging is calculated as an average of all items. Physics belonging ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater sense of belonging in physics.
Mean differences in Psychological Threat measured via Ecological Momentary Assessment Up to 3 days post-random assignment Perceived physics demands and physics coping resources, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Psychological threat is calculated by subtracting average of physics demands from average of physics resources. Psychological threat ranges from -5 to 5, with scores above zero indicating psychological threat and scores of 0 or lower indicating psychological challenge.
Mean change in Psychological Threat measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Perceived physics demands and physics coping resources, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Psychological threat is calculated by subtracting average of physics demands from average of physics resources. Psychological threat ranges from -5 to 5, with scores above zero indicating psychological threat and scores of 0 or lower indicating psychological challenge.
Mean change in Physics Achievement Goals measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Goals related to mastery approach, performance approach, or performance avoidance, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Each subscale is calculated as an average of all of the items for each subscale. Physics achievement goals range from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater mastery approach, performance approach, or performance avoidance goals.
Mean change in Physics Growth Mindset measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Beliefs that intelligence and abilities for physics can be developed through dedication and hard work, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Growth mindset is calculated as an average of all items. Growth mindset ranges from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater growth mindsets and lower scores indicating greater fixed mindsets.
Mean change in Physics Identity measured via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention The degree by which students identify their self-concept with physics, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Physics identity is calculated as an average of all items. Physics identity ranges from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater self-identification with physics.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mean change in Physics performance on the assessment Change from baseline to posttest Physics problem solving tasks that range in difficulty covering content from introductory physics. Each item is scored for accuracy. Multiple choice and forced choice items scored as correct or incorrect. Open-ended and explanation items are scored on a rubric. Scores are averaged across the items with higher scores indicating better physics performance.
Mean differences in Meaning Making and Positive Reappraisal assessed via Ecological Momentary Assessment Up to 3 days post-random assignment Positive Construals and appraisals of a difficult experience in physics, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 5. Positive construals and appraisals are calculated as an average of all items. Positive construals and appraisals ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater positive reappraisal of a difficult experience in physics.
Mean differences in Equanimity assessed via Ecological Momentary Assessment Up to 3 days post-random assignment State balanced mental attitude, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 5. State equanimity is calculated as an average of all items. State equanimity ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating a greater balanced mental attitude.
Mean change in Physics Engagement assessed via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Physics effort, cognitive strategies, metacognitive strategies, \& help-seeking, with each subscale measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Each subscale is calculated as an average of all of the items for each subscale, with higher scores indicating greater effort, use of cognitive strategies, metacognitive strategies, and greater help-seeking behavior.
Mean change in Meaning Making and Positive Reappraisal assessed via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Positive construals and appraisals of a difficult experience in physics, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 5. Positive construals and appraisals are calculated as an average of all items. Positive construals and appraisals ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater positive reappraisal of a difficult experience in physics.
Mean change in Physics Anxiety assessed via Self-Report Up to three months post-intervention Anxiety about doing physics work, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 5. Physics anxiety is calculated as an average of all items. Physics anxiety ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater physics anxiety.
Mean differences in Performance on the Preparation for Future Learning Task Posttest Physics problem solving tasks that include new learning resources (e.g., a worked example) and a transfer task. Each item is scored for accuracy. Open-ended and explanation items are scored on a rubric. Scores are summed across items with higher scores indicating better physics learning.
Mean change of judgments of confidence, anxiety, and difficulty during physics assessment via Self-Report Change from baseline to posttest Judgments of anxiety, confidence, and difficulty during physics problem solving, with each subscale measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 6. Each subscale is calculated as an average of all of the items, with higher scores indicating greater confidence, anxiety, and difficulty respectively.
Mean differences in Affect assessed via Ecological Momentary Assessment Up to 3 days post-random assignment Positive and negative affect, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 1 to 5. Positive and negative affect are calculated as an average of all items from each subscale. Positive and negative affect ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater positive or negative affect, respectively.
Mean differences in Mindfulness assessed via Ecological Momentary Assessment Up to 3 days post-random assignment State mindful attention and awareness, measured using self-report items with Likert scale from 0 to 6. State mindfulness is calculated as an average of all items. State mindfulness ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater state mindful attention and awareness.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Pittsburgh
šŗšøPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States