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Getting Started with Discipline-Based Education Research

Discipline-based education research (DBER) is the scientific study of teaching and learning via a combination of disciplinary expertise and social sciences methodology. Use this guide for help getting started with DBER. Some resources also cite the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).

Scholarship of Teaching
Updated June 2024
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Justin Shaffer
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies / Teaching Professor
Colorado School of Mines
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01

DBER Study Design Guide

Recombinant Education

For a birds-eye view of the process of conducting a discipline-based education research study, see this flyer.

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Justin Shaffer
I made this ten-step flyer to give folks getting started in DBER an overview of the processes involved in designing, conducting, and disseminating a DBER study.
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SoTL and DBER Study Design Guide

Recombinant Education
Open resource
This flyer provides an overview of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER) to help faculty, staff, and students learn the basics of how to scholarly and scientifically assess courses, curriculum, teaching, and student learning and affect.
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02

A "How To" Guide for Getting Started in DBER

Advances in Physiology Education

This article takes a deep dive into the steps involved in a DBER study with practical tips and guidance.

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Justin Shaffer

This is a wonderful how-to guide from Valerie Dean O'Loughlin on how to get started and conduct a DBER study (here called SoTL).

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Open resource
In order for the efforts of scholarly teaching to be recognized, the work must become public and presented to peers for review. Scholarship of Teaching is not only improving instruction and learning but also methodically assessing whether specific teaching interventions have had the desired effect. In this paper, the author presents a step-by-step guide for how to develop a Scholarship of Teaching project that is well thought out and worthy of publication. Factors to consider before performing such pedagogical research include developing a clear research hypothesis for the classroom, reviewing the background literature, obtaining Institutional Review Board (Human Subjects) approval, and determining which methods of assessment may be used. This “how to” guide discusses how to handle all of these factors and prepare the data for publication and introduces the reader to references related to the Scholarship of Teaching and learning as well as educational research and theory.
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03

Book on the History and Future of DBER Fields

National Academies

This book from the National Research Council explores the history and future directions of DBER across many different STEM fields.

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Justin Shaffer
This seminal book gives readers an overview of the history of DBER in a variety of STEM fields, their contributions to DBER, and the future of each.
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Open resource
The National Science Foundation funded a synthesis study on the status, contributions, and future direction of discipline-based education research (DBER) in physics, biological sciences, geosciences, and chemistry. DBER combines knowledge of teaching and learning with deep knowledge of discipline-specific science content. It describes the discipline-specific difficulties learners face and the specialized intellectual and instructional resources that can facilitate student understanding.
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04

What Is It Like to Be a DBER/SoTL Scholar?

Elon University Center for Engaged Learning

This book walks readers through the perspective of actually being a DBER/SoTL scholar and how one interacts with their scientific colleagues.

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Justin Shaffer

Providing personal narratives, practical tips, and inspirational messaging, this great resource is for those new to DBER/SoTL as well as for seasoned veterans in the field already.

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Becoming a SoTL Scholar

Elon University Center for Engaged Learning
Open resource
Becoming a SoTL scholar involves reckoning with one’s academic identity, since SoTL occupies a kind of “borderland” or liminal space outside of traditional disciplines. For faculty members who become interested in SoTL, this new space is typically disorienting at first, as the scholar grows from these initial moments to ultimately finding a place in the SoTL community. This book explores what happens after that phase, after one has come to embrace the identity of a SoTL scholar. It describes the traits that determine one’s credibility and expertise as a SoTL scholar, and delves into the ongoing collaborations, research groups, and networks that form much of that necessary SoTL community.  The book also explores the possibilities for students and early-career colleagues who choose SoTL as their primary career path.
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05

The Importance of Literature Reviews and Frameworks in DBER Studies

CBE: Life Sciences Education

This article summarizes the importance of conducting literature reviews and choosing frameworks for DBER studies.

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Justin Shaffer

It can be tempting to jump into a research design, but spending time reviewing the literature and choosing a framework can greatly enhance a study. Here's a useful article on those two aspects of the process.

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Open resource
To frame their work, biology education researchers need to consider the role of literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, and conceptual frameworks as critical elements of the research and writing process. However, these elements can be confusing for scholars new to education research. This Research Methods article is designed to provide an overview of each of these elements and delineate the purpose of each in the educational research process. We describe what biology education researchers should consider as they conduct literature reviews, identify theoretical frameworks, and construct conceptual frameworks. Clarifying these different components of educational research studies can be helpful to new biology education researchers and the biology education research community at large in situating their work in the broader scholarly literature.
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06

Education Research Methods Videos

University of Georgia SEER Center

View this collection of videos of various aspects of education research including qualitative research, interviews, surveys, and classroom observations.

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Justin Shaffer

Check out this great compendium of videos from DBER folks at the University of Georgia that go over important aspects of qualitative methods, interviews, surveys, and classroom observations.

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Education Research Methods Videos

University of Georgia SEER Center
Open resource
This is a compilation of videos that can inform the creation and implementation of education research projects. These videos feature SEER Center members and were produced by CIRTL at University of Georgia in conjunction with BioTAP.
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07

Lots of Resources and References for DBER Studies

American Physiological Society

This website contains links to countless articles to help folks navigate the DBER world, including primers, how-tos, and "lived experiences."

Headshot of Justin Shaffer
Justin Shaffer
This website is chock full of references and resources to help give guidance and support to starting DBER studies and learning from examples in the field. Of special interest are many "lived experiences" with concrete tips and strategies for getting started and conducting DBER work.
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Open resource
Physiology education research measures if and how students learn physiology concepts and develop relevant skills. The Center for Physiology Education values the impact of rigorous physiology education research and the development of physiology education research expertise. Work in this field is broad, with findings that provide data to inform evidence-based teaching practices. Whether educators intend to pursue education research as their central research agenda or focus on how students learn in their classrooms, the strategies that these resources provide will inform educators as they move their work forward.
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08

Discipline-Based Education Research: A Guide for Scientists

Stephanie J. Slater, Timothy F. Slater, Inge Heyer, and Janelle M. Bailey

This book covers the basics of getting started in DBER for scientists coming from their traditional fields of study.

Headshot of Justin Shaffer
Justin Shaffer

A quick, focused, and practical read on the basics of conducting DBER studies, I got my start in DBER partly because of this book!

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Discipline-Based Education Research: A Guide for Scientists

Stephanie J. Slater, Timothy F. Slater, Inge Heyer, and Janelle M. Bailey
Open resource
This expanded and updated second edition book is written for scientists who want to learn more about how science education research is done and how to get started in discipline-based education research. It provides the reader with an introduction to the philosophical and practical differences between more familiar traditional scientific research and the more unfamiliar domain of sociological research. Readers will learn about the most robust ideas in education research, which serve as jumping off points in their new forays into the realm of discipline-based education research. Quantitative, interpretive, and action research methods are introduced with real-life, easy to follow examples.
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