The effect of the FIRST Robotics Competition on high school students' attitudes toward science

Abstract

This study measured the impact of participation in the FIRST Robotics Competition on student attitude toward science using the seven attitudinal categories of the TOSRA survey. Specifically, it was anticipated that students' participating in FIRST Robotics would have a statistically significant increase in attitudes and interests in the seven categories related to attitudes toward science. It was further anticipated that gender, ethnicity, age, location of high school, and performance in science classes would be related to their views of science. A convenience sample of students from the greater Kansas City metropolitan area was used in this study. Data were colleted using the Test of Science Related Attitudes (TORSA) pre- and post-survey. Student participants completed the pre-survey in December 2006, just prior to the beginning of the six-week build season. Students completed the post-survey at the end of the build season and prior to attending regional competitions. Data was collected from students participating in FIRST Robotics and from a comparison group of students from the same school not participating in FIRST Robotics. The effect of the FIRST Robotics Competition, as evaluated in this study, did provide statistically significant outcomes in four of the seven primary areas examined: Social Implication of Science, Normality of Scientists, Attitude to Scientific Inquiry, and Adoption of Scientific Attitudes. The study did not reflect an effect on a change of attitude toward science based on gender, ethnicity, length of time associated with a team, or location of the high school. This study does offer some evidence that the FIRST Robotics Competition has an attitudinal impact on students regarding views toward science.