Ecological Momentary Assessment Research

Using Real-Time Measures of Emotion to Predict Self-Efficacy and Persistence in Engineering Mechanics Courses

Project Overview

Schedule: Fall 2022 - Spring 2026

Lead organization: Dept. of Civil and Architectural Engineering at the University of Miami

Location: Coral Gables, Florida

Sponsors: National Science Foundation, University of Miami

Project Director: Dr. James Giancaspro

Introduction

This study examined links between students' self-efficacy (confidence in their abilities) to time, rigor of course content, outside psychological stressors, and background.  This was be accomplished using an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study.

What is EMA?

An Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study involves electronic polling (via email or text message) to collect students' emotions in real-time at specific events or on a recurring schedule.

Research Overview

The Overall research goal is to establish causal links between students' self-efficacy (measured via their emotion) with major variables such as time, rigor of course content, outside psychological stressors, and demographics.

Objectives:

  1. 1Measure the within-semester fluctuations in students' self-efficacy (via mood) over time, and identify threshold values above which constitute a normative pattern for success, and below which learning is impaired and persistence (in engineering mechanics courses and in an engineering major) is jeopardized

  2. Relate the difficulty of mechanics topics with changes in students' self-efficacy over time

  3. Quantify the relative contributions of each major factor (rigor of course content, and external psychological stressors) to the temporal variations in students' self-efficacy

  4. Identify whether affect and self-efficacy are correlated to student demographics