Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011 - rees2009

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) Página 787 de 957
Table 2: Average ratings of table groups on Tempelaar Tutorial Group Evaluation scales
This would indicate that engineering students’ understanding of positive group
interactions, and the intricacies of intercultural interaction, are inconsistent with their
behaviours, and is consistent with research suggesting that subtle and unconscious
behaviours maintain the status quo in intercultural contexts, particularly when people
believe themselves to be egalitarian (Gaertner and Dovidio, 1986). Further analysis of the
data collected is needed to confirm this preliminary indication, and to provide more detail
on where particular inconsistencies lie. This work is currently underway, and the authors
aim to present further research outcomes at the time of the conference.
Discussion
At this early stage in the research process, there are indications that the expected gap
between espoused views and values and students’ behaviour is a significant issue for
teachers in fostering the acquisition of intercultural competence. It remains to be seen
whether the type of educational interventions we have already piloted, and which we are
extending, will have an impact on students’ interpersonal behaviours or on their work.
At a more practical level, gaining informed consent from most students was not
problematic for the two tutorial classes involved, however, the researchers experienced
difficulty in recruiting students to take part in the individual group observations. This will
be addressed in future sessions by offering extra tutorial assistance to participating
groups as an incentive, rather than monetary incentives which proved expensive, yet
unappealing to students. The paper based questionnaire will also be modified slightly to
identify language barriers which may be influencing group interactions independently of
significant cultural differences. No modifications are required in terms of recording group
work:, the researchers found that students worked easily in front of a video camera, and
did not react to its presence once their activities were underway. With these revisions, the
research will be duplicated at four other institutions in first and second year engineering
courses.
Proceedings of Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011
Madrid, 4 th - 7 th October 2011