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Physicists and Outreach: Implications of Schools Physics Outreach Programmes from the Perspective of the Participating Physicists

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Physicists and Outreach: Implications of Schools Physics Outreach Programmes from the Perspective of the Participating Physicists Physicists and Outreach: Implications of schools physics outreach programmes from the perspective of the participating physicists Charlotte Thorley UCL Institute of Education Doctor in Education (EdD) 2016 1 Declaration I, Charlotte Thorley, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. Word count (exclusive of appendices, the list of references and bibliographies but including footnotes, endnotes, glossary, maps, diagrams and tables): 48,395 words 2 Acknowledgements I would like to extend my thanks to the many people who helped me on my EdD journey. I have been supported by wide networks, in person and through social media, and it has all contributed to this final thesis. The Ogden Trust, QMUL and SEPnet have all supported my studies, financially and practically, and so have my sincere thanks. Special mention should go to my supervisor, Michael Reiss, who has remained calm and sure through my panic and doubt and found the words needed to keep me on track. I am pleased to have had this time to work together again. No amount of cake and wine is enough to thank my team and colleagues at QMUL, but I shall keep trying. The CPE has been an essential thinking pot for my work. The SEPnet and Ogden Outreach Officers have been essential to this work, providing access to many of the activities I would observe, circulating my questionnaire, and thinking through my research question with me as well as heading to the pub on occasion. I am grateful to have remained a welcome part of this extended family, with particular thanks to Antonio, Darren, Dave, Dom, Jen, Pearl, Sadie, Sarah and Vicky. I will forever be indebted to Clare Harvey and Bryony Frost, who are two of the most intelligent and lovely people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They have helped in a practical sense, reading work and checking my coding, and been my intellectual spirit guides, providing challenge and provocation for my work. We don’t always see eye to eye, and for that I’m grateful. I’m proud of you both. And finally my family and friends, who have been much neglected for the last few years. I love you all, and am grateful for your support and belief in me. I promise to stop filling Facebook with thesis updates now. Mum, Dad, thanks for keeping me company when I needed you and always being there. Dan, you help me to achieve my potential, and I love you for it. Thank you. 3 Abstract This thesis examines physics outreach activities from the perspective of the participating physicists. It explores the nuances of physics outreach to school audiences in the context of wider outreach and public engagement agendas for higher education. The study employs mixed methods, comprising an electronic survey and case studies. The case studies follow audiences through nine physics outreach activities that are observed, complemented by semi-structured interviews with the physicists that took part in the activity after the event. Physicists’ perceptions and understandings of their audience, and the ways in which the audience are recruited, are shown to be crucial factors in delivering successful outreach activities. Parameters for successful outreach from this perspective are determined, and recommendations made for how such indicators might be developed further by outreach programme managers and influencers such as the Institute of Physics. Obtaining the data needed for this study was only made possible through links to the growing networks of outreach professionals in this field, and the positive impact of such roles was made clear by the participating physicists. The findings of this study will be used to influence physics schools outreach practice, and have relevance to other subjects and audiences. 4 Contents Declaration ........................................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 4 Contents ............................................................................................................................ 5 List of Figures ................................................................................................................. 10 List of Tables................................................................................................................... 13 List of Abbreviations....................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 0: Reflective Statement...................................................................................... 15 0.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 15 0.2 Developing a career in an emerging profession .................................................... 15 0.3 Different perspectives on outreach and engagement ............................................. 17 0.4 Consolidating learning and practice ...................................................................... 18 0.5 Summary ............................................................................................................... 19 La Comedia, Inferno XXVI, vv. 112-120 ....................................................................... 21 Chapter 1: A study of physicists and outreach ................................................................ 22 1.1 Overview of the thesis ........................................................................................... 22 1.2 Research question .................................................................................................. 22 1.3 Physicist perceptions of outreach .......................................................................... 23 Chapter 2: Literature and context .................................................................................... 24 2.1 Overview ............................................................................................................... 24 5 2.2 A brief history of physics outreach in the UK ....................................................... 24 2.3 What schools want and need from outreach .......................................................... 26 2.3.1 Choosing an intervention ................................................................................ 28 2.4 What is outreach? .................................................................................................. 29 2.4.1 Outreach, public engagement and informal education ................................... 32 2.5 Participation of scientists ....................................................................................... 34 2.5.1 The personal nature of physics communication ............................................. 35 2.5.2 Motivations and benefits ................................................................................. 39 2.5.3 Barriers............................................................................................................ 39 2.5.4 What does success look like?.......................................................................... 40 2.6 Informing practice ................................................................................................. 42 Chapter 3: Methodology and methods ............................................................................ 45 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 45 3.1.1 Values-driven research ................................................................................... 45 3.1.2 Pragmatism and practical considerations ........................................................ 46 3.1.3 Positioning myself within this research .......................................................... 46 3.1.4 Bridging a paradigm gap................................................................................. 49 3.1.5 A reflexive, engaged and pragmatic approach................................................ 50 3.2 Method and design ................................................................................................ 50 3.2.1 Survey of physicists ........................................................................................ 51 3.2.2 Case studies..................................................................................................... 56 3.2.3 Observations ................................................................................................... 58 3.2.4 Interviews........................................................................................................ 61 3.2.5 Thematic analysis, coding and reliability ....................................................... 63 6 3.2.6 Ethics .............................................................................................................. 68 Chapter 4: Physicists’ perceptions of outreach survey ................................................... 70 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 70 4.1.1 Contextual information ................................................................................... 70 4.2 Questions matching the 2006 Factors
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