A PhD student’s perspective of educational research in acoustics

Doctoral research in acoustics typically involves experimental, computational, and theoretical analysis of technical problems. Research focused on understanding how students learn acoustics (acoustics education research) requires a familiarity with an entirely different knowledge and skill set. This presentation introduces education research from the perspective of an acoustics graduate student who is pursuing a dissertation involving acoustics education research. Key topics will include: the distinctions between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches; navigating the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process; and the design of a study using focus groups to explore how undergraduate students engage with interactive animations as learning tools. This talk will emphasize the importance of moving beyond descriptive accounts of teaching practices to employing research methods to rigorously evaluate learning outcomes.