Leaving the Lectures Behind: Using Community-Engaged Learning in Research Methods Classes to Teach about Sustainability

Abstract

This article explores the outcomes of using community-engaged learning in a sustainability-focused social sciences research course titled Methods of Social Research. The integrated components of the course were designed to teach students about the research process while addressing sustainability issues at Utah State University. Throughout the course, students learned how to collect, analyze, and interpret data; work in research teams; write a grant; and write and present a final research paper. Student sustainability surveys and the final course evaluation were used to analyze student learning outcomes. We found that students demonstrated increased confidence in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data and an improved effectiveness and enjoyment in working in teams toward a final product. Students also exhibited their knowledge of small- and large-scale sustainability challenges as well as a decisiveness in answering questions related to sustainability. These outcomes resulted in heightened student self-efficacy and critical thinking skills when performing research and engaging with issues related to sustainability.

In Defense of Doom and Gloom: Science, Sensitivity, and Mobilization in Teaching about Climate Change

“…In a large-scale longitudinal study, Astin et al (2000) found that students who had engaged in service learning activities showed improvements in not just academic performance but also leadership skills, self-efficacy, and a strengthened commitment to activism. Similarly, Soyer et al (2022) found that students engaged in applied sustainability-related research activity emerged with a heightened sense of self-efficacy, a key aspect of empowered civic engagement. It should be noted here that a sense of personal efficacy in regard to political engagement does not necessarily mean optimism in regard to issue outcomes.…”

“…The literature is rich with examples for how to foster civic engagement through exercises that can be used inside or outside of the sociology classroom (Ghoshal 2019; Matto et al 2017; Meza Rios et al 2018; Miller, Miller, and Spoelstra 2021; Soyer et al 2022). In Teaching Civic Engagement across the Disciplines , Matto et al (2017) provide a hands-on guide to creating such opportunities for students.…”