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Impact of Outreach on Physics Student Development: Quantitative Results from a National Survey

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Title: Impact of Outreach on Physics Student Development: Quantitative Results from a National Survey
Language: English
Authors: Jonathan D. Perry (ORCID 0000-0002-1033-857X), Toni Sauncy, Susan White (ORCID 0009-0009-7339-7997), Rachel L. Ivie, John Tyler (ORCID 0009-0001-8046-0677), Tatiana Erukhimova (ORCID 0000-0002-9714-0151)
Source: Physical Review Physics Education Research. 2025 21(2).
Availability: American Physical Society. One Physics Ellipse 4th Floor, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Tel: 301-209-3200; Fax: 301-209-0865; e-mail: assocpub@aps.org; Web site: https://journals.aps.org/prper/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF), Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE)
Contract Number: 2214493
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Physics, Outreach Programs, Student Development, Sense of Belonging, Skill Development, Self Concept, Informal Education, Undergraduate Students, Student Participation, 21st Century Skills, Academic Persistence, Student Motivation, Cognitive Structures, Self Efficacy
Geographic Terms: Texas
DOI: 10.1103/mj85-87vk
ISSN: 2469-9896
Abstract: This work reports results from the first national study of the impact of student facilitation of informal physics outreach programs on their physics identity, sense of belonging, and essential career skill development. Drawing on results from studies at a single institution with a well-established physics outreach program, a national survey was developed and distributed through the Society of Physics Students' network to more than 5000 individuals. A total of 704 responses were received. Responses to closed-form questions on the survey were analyzed descriptively and using multiple regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between student participation in informal physics outreach programs and the constructs of interest. Results show that students' engagement in outreach was linked to increased confidence in communicating their physics knowledge, as well as to the development of key career skills. Additionally, facilitating informal physics outreach programs was a modest but significant predictor of a stronger growth mindset and a greater sense of belonging within the field, which are known to contribute to student persistence in their major.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1492362
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jonathan+D%2E+Perry%22">Jonathan D. Perry</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-857X">0000-0002-1033-857X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Toni+Sauncy%22">Toni Sauncy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+White%22">Susan White</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7339-7997">0009-0009-7339-7997</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+L%2E+Ivie%22">Rachel L. Ivie</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22John+Tyler%22">John Tyler</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8046-0677">0009-0001-8046-0677</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tatiana+Erukhimova%22">Tatiana Erukhimova</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9714-0151">0000-0002-9714-0151</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Physical+Review+Physics+Education+Research%22"><i>Physical Review Physics Education Research</i></searchLink>. 2025 21(2).
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  Data: American Physical Society. One Physics Ellipse 4th Floor, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Tel: 301-209-3200; Fax: 301-209-0865; e-mail: assocpub@aps.org; Web site: https://journals.aps.org/prper/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1103/mj85-87vk
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  Data: This work reports results from the first national study of the impact of student facilitation of informal physics outreach programs on their physics identity, sense of belonging, and essential career skill development. Drawing on results from studies at a single institution with a well-established physics outreach program, a national survey was developed and distributed through the Society of Physics Students' network to more than 5000 individuals. A total of 704 responses were received. Responses to closed-form questions on the survey were analyzed descriptively and using multiple regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between student participation in informal physics outreach programs and the constructs of interest. Results show that students' engagement in outreach was linked to increased confidence in communicating their physics knowledge, as well as to the development of key career skills. Additionally, facilitating informal physics outreach programs was a modest but significant predictor of a stronger growth mindset and a greater sense of belonging within the field, which are known to contribute to student persistence in their major.
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Physics
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      – SubjectFull: Outreach Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Student Development
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      – SubjectFull: Sense of Belonging
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      – SubjectFull: Student Participation
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      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
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      – SubjectFull: Texas
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