Laboratory Self-Efficacy Levels of 1st and 4th Grade Level of Engineering Students

Abstract

There is limited number of studies done on students’ laboratory self-efficacy values, especially on engineering students. For that reason, aim of this study was to investigate the laboratory self-efficacy values of engineering students. Research hypothesis was laboratory self-efficacy values increase with grade level. For that reason, a laboratory self-efficacy scale was applied to volunteered 35 students studying at 1^st grade level and 30 students studying at 4^th grade level. Thus, study group consisted of 65 students studying at engineering faculty. For the purpose of the study purposive/convenience sampling method was chosen. Laboratory self-efficacy scale had .786 Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency value. Students’ responses to each item in the scale were shown in the table. Also total scores were calculated with respect to non-refined method. Total scores for the grade levels were compared with independent samples t test. Test results revealed that there was no significant difference between the grade levels in terms of laboratory self-efficacy values. It was also observed that 4^th grade level students obtained higher scores only on two items than 1^st year students. It is believed that limited conclusion obtained from this research would provide valuable milestones for the researchers who want to investigate laboratory self-efficacy values of engineering students or any other departments which has laboratory courses in their curriculum.