TEACHING NEUROSCIENCES AS A TOOL TO IMPROVE SELF-EFFICACY IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

• Grant number: 23/09339-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Eduardo Padovan Neto
• Grantee: Ana Julia Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Self-efficacy in higher education (i.e. the belief in one's ability to achieve academic goals) is positively related to academic performance, motivation and resilience. However, academic challenges can affect students' mental health, emphasizing the importance of self-efficacy in preventing mental health problems. Studies suggest that neuroscience knowledge influences students' perceived efficacy and motivation to succeed academically. The hypothesis of this study is that undergraduate students will increase their self-efficacy in higher education after taking a neuroscience course. The aim is to develop and implement an online neuroeducation course for undergraduate students, introducing basic neuroscience concepts. To this end, 90 university students will be recruited and divided into two groups: one with access to the neuroscience course and the other as a control group. sociodemographic questionnaires, assessments of exposure to neuroscience, neuroscience knowledge questionnaires, the Higher Education Self-Efficacy Scale (AEFS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) will be conducted before and after the course. After the course, the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS-BRV) will be applied to assess participants' motivation regarding the course. In addition, data will be collected on participants' adherence, and the relationship between adherence and the AEFS and DASS-21 indicators will be analyzed. The program will be developed based on "Mode 2" of doing science, emphasizing collaboration and the practical application of neuroscientific knowledge. The expectation is that teaching neuroscience will improve the academic development and motivation of university students.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RIBEIRO, ANA JULIA; RUGGIERO, RAFAEL NAIME; PADOVAN-NETO, FERNANDO EDUARDO. Previous neuroscience exposure predicts self-efficacy among undergraduate students. TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCE AND EDUCATION, v. 38, p. 11-pg., 2025-02-20. (23/09339-2)

RIBEIRO, ANA JULIA; MULLE, RAFAEL LIMA DALLE; PADOVAN-NETO, FERNANDO EDUARDO. Neuroscience Exposure as a Predictor of Teaching Self-Efficacy. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATION IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION, v. 15, n. 5, p. 22-pg., 2025-05-16. (23/09339-2)