McNair Scholar 2020 Chloe Hendrix
Chloe Hendrix is a rising senior majoring in Developmental Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include the achievement gap, school psychology, and exploring the most effective ways to support underrepresented students in their aspirations to achieve their academic and personal goals. She hopes to become a school psychologist and earn a PhD. in Educational Psychology.
My dream is to encourage students to achieve their goals of higher education despite any barriers they may be presented with. I aim to do this with a focus on supportive mentorship, culturally responsive teaching, and use of effective programs and practices that support racial and ethnic minorities.
Research project
Examining the Relationship between Race, Ethnicity, and Self-Efficacy in STEM for Middle School Students
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore how student self-efficacy scores by the Modified Attitudes Toward Science Inventory (mATSI) varied based on race. Considering students’ thoughts and beliefs on anxiety towards science, desire to do science, self concept toward science, and the value science brings to society were the main concentrations of this research. An analysis of the factors that impact underrepresented students in science and their ability to succeed was completed through exploration of concepts such as “stereotype threat,” effective mentorship programs, and personal science experiences of minority students in schools. The mATSI survey data involves 182 middle school students from two schools, one urban and one suburban. Student survey scores were analyzed by four racial categories and by the urban or suburban category. In our efforts to explain differences in science and math achievement, differences were discovered in survey scores that suggest that students experience unique relationships with science learning and self-efficacy based on race, school environment, and other factors. These findings suggest a need for more targeted, culturally responsive programs that tailor to individualized needs of groups, focus on economic barriers, and provide opportunities to engage in science learning.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Keisha Varma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Associate Vice Provost in the Office for Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Varma leads the NSF-funded Fostering Equity in Science through Parent Involvement and Technology (ESPRIT) Project. ESPRIT focuses on increasing minority and immigrant parent involvement to support middle school science learning. As a core faculty member in CHED’s Learning Informatics Lab, Dr. Varma focuses on how new technologies can inform and impact socio-cultural experiences in formal and informal contexts. Dr. Varma also leads an NSF LSAMP Project, the North Star STEM Alliance, that focuses on helping undergraduate STEM majors to persist and thrive by creating holistic programming that includes academic guidance, mentoring, and social-emotional support.