SEG-way Study

Sociopsychological Experiences in Gateway STEM courses

What is the study about?

The purpose of this study is to track and better understand students’ psychological experiences in gateway STEM courses, which are the point of entry into the STEM pipeline. More specifically, we aim to assess the psychological antecedents of engagement, participation, and persistence in these large, rigorous courses. Details about study participation are provided below, separately for students and instructors (GSIs and faculty members).


Contact information

For any questions or concerns, please reach out to the lead researcher, Smriti Mehta, at smriti@berkeley.edu.


Information for Students

Who is eligible for the study?

To be eligible, you must be:

  1. Above 18 years of age

  2. Enrolled (or waitlisted) in one of the following courses during Fall 2021:

BIO 1A, BIO 1B

CHEM 1A, CHEM 3A, CHEM 3AL, CHEM 3B, CHEM 3BL

MATH 1A, MATH 1B

PHYSICS 8A, PHYSICS 8B


What will you be asked to do?

  1. Complete a 10-minute intake survey at the beginning of the semester.

  2. Fill out 5-minute surveys four times during the semester

  3. Complete a 10-minute exit survey at the end of the semester


Some students may also be invited to participate in 15-minute phone interviews. Items on the survey/interview will relate to your experience in the course, your prior educational history, interest in STEM, and demographic information


What are the benefits for participating?

You will be compensated up to $10 for you time in the form of e-gift cards. You will receive $2 each for the first and last survey, $1 each for the brief 4 weekly surveys, and an additional $2 completion bonus if you complete all 6 surveys.

Alternatively, if you happen to be taking a course in Psychology, you may request research credits (1 credit total) through our department's Research Participation Program in lieu of payment.


What happens if I drop the course?

You are eligible to participate even if you are currently waitlisted in the course and will remain part of the study even if you decide to drop the course.


If you are willing to participate, you can sign the consent form and complete the first survey by clicking on the button below:

Information for Instructors

Who is eligible for the study?

To be eligible, you must be:

  1. Above 18 years of age

  2. The instructor of record or GSI for one of the following courses during Fall 2021:

BIO 1A and 1B

CHEM 1A, 3A, 3AL, 3B, and 3BL

MATH 1A and 1B

PHYSICS 8A and 8B


What will you be asked to do?

  1. Fill out one quick, 15-minute survey at the beginning of the semester regarding your perspectives on teaching and learning.

  2. Help us advertise the study to your class (by giving us a few minutes in class and allowing us to email your students)


What are the benefits for participating?

In case of interest, we would be happy to share our results with you once we have completed the analyses. We can also provide aggregate descriptive data while the study is ongoing at your request.

If you are willing to participate, please go to the link below to sign the consent form and take the survey: