A Mixed Methods Analysis of Motivation Factors in Senior Capstone Design Courses

Abstract

is a graduate student working on her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on the impact of motivation on performance and persistence in mechanical engineering design courses under the guidance of Dr. Beshoy Morkos. She also serves as a graduate student advisor to senior design teams within the mechanical engineering department. Elisabeth is a member of ASME, ASEE,

Design Evaluations in Educational Settings: A Neuroscientific Study of Incentivized Test/Retest on Student Performance

“…Our previous research has shown that senior capstone design presentations can be regarded as one such stress-inducing environment for students, with the requirement of biweekly presentations to industry clients and instructors. It has also shown a decrease in presentation anxiety and an increase in performance at the end of the course, inferring the impact of repetition and preparedness garnered throughout the course [44,45]. Incentives can be intrinsic and extrinsic, both considered motivation-specific processes leading to desired behavior/outcome of the task.…”

Comparison of the Effectiveness of In-Person and Remote Labs for Undergraduate Physics Students at an HBC

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Linking Co-op and Senior Project: Technical Proposal Requirement Embedded in Second Co-op Rotation

“…When incorporating these high impact experiences into a curriculum, research has also shown that internships that directly relate to the academic program provide higher internship satisfaction and a higher perceived relevance to student's career development [4]. Additionally, when students have a choice in the projects they work on and a genuine interest in the project, the students' performance is impacted by this intrinsic motivation [5].…”