Explore Research findings from the C-PIECE Study
The C-PIECE Study, A study of collaborative practices at interactive engineering challenge exhibits, was the first of two research studies in the the DOT research program.
In this study we explored engineering practices used by families engaging with design challenge exhibits, guided by one overarching question:
“What can we better understand about fostering engineering design practices associated with more informed levels of engineering proficiencies by improving engineering design challenge exhibits and facilitation for families?”
While the research did not proceed linearly — it involved reflecting, revising, and working on multiple aspects of the project simultaneously — it roughly followed this process:
The C-PIECE Study Research Process
The purpose of the C-PIECE Study was to develop theory-based measures of engineering proficiencies within an exhibit context. The investigation was guided by the following research questions:
- What instruments capture engineering proficiencies at exhibits? Specifically, what are valid approaches to assess visitors’ proficiency in (a) Defining a problem, and (b) Optimizing Solutions at exhibits?
- What is a valid method for determining visitor awareness of engineering process in an exhibit?
- What is a valid method for determining intergenerational collaboration?
The C-PIECE Study developed integrated measures for several visitor experience outcomes including engineering proficiencies, intergenerational collaboration and visitor satisfaction. We employed culturally responsive approaches to data collection and analysis, in which the culture and context of the visitors are considered crucial facets in evaluating the study’s impact. This included a culturally responsive framework specific to the project and strategies for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.