Data for: Fostering Undergraduate Self-Confidence and Community in Solar/Astro-Physics: The Impact of Research Experiences and Public Outreach

<h3>Project Overview</h3>
<p>This mixed-method research conducts a formative assessment of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in solar and astrophysics at Montana State University. Focusing on student opinions, this study uses a student opinion survey, and a cohort of seven students was assembled in 2024 to serve as a case study. Five additional tools, including the original survey, three researcher-designed tools inspired by Angelo and Cross (Self-confidence Survey, Chain Note CATs, and Directed Paraphrasing CATs), interviews, and a personal journal, were employed to track student progress and confidence from the beginning to the end of the program. In addition, a student-led outreach mini-seminar series was reintroduced, focusing on building students’ ability to present their research to a general audience. Using these tools, changes in student confidence regarding research, course material, and outreach were measured, leading to three main conclusions: REU programs benefit from formative assessments, students desired a stronger sense of community, and student-led outreach enriched the overall experience.</p>