You either have it or you don't: First year engineering students' experiences of belongingness
Conference
Rohde, JA, Benson, L, Potvin, G et al. (2018). You either have it or you don't: First year engineering students' experiences of belongingness
. 2018-June
Rohde, JA, Benson, L, Potvin, G et al. (2018). You either have it or you don't: First year engineering students' experiences of belongingness
. 2018-June
This research paper investigates first-year engineering students' perceptions of belongingness in engineering. Interviews with 23 students about their fit, belonging, and similarities in engineering informed our analysis of the ways in which first-year engineering students describe belonging in engineering. We found that students responded to questions about belongingness in three ways: through their personal attributes, interests, and emotions. Additionally, we found that students described these attributes, interests, and emotions as characteristics that they either did or did not have. These fixed characteristics did not allow for student change or growth. Together, our results inform ways that students evaluate their belongingness in engineering, as well as ways in which educators can help their students feel like they belong.
