UROP Project
mathematics, reasoning, argumentation, cognition
Research Mentor: Lauren Sprague, She/Her
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: sprague@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: sprague@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Psychology, Education, Mathematics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Friday, 9/6 from 2:30-3:00, 3:00-3:30, & 3:30-4:00
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92895250432
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: Psychology, Education, Mathematics
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 6,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Friday, 9/6 from 2:30-3:00, 3:00-3:30, & 3:30-4:00
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/92895250432
Project Description
This study will investigate various potential factors related to undergraduates' understandings of division by zero. Previous research shows that many children and adults, even teachers, do not know that a number divided by zero has no numerical quotient (it is "undefined"). Those who know this fact are often unable to explain it when prompted. The types of arguments teachers and textbooks use to explain this mathematical fact may contribute to students' understandings. Additionally, students' understandings of certain explanations may be related to individual differences in cognition, such as the tendency to reflect before answering a question. This study will address both of these potential factors in detail.Research Tasks: literature review, survey creation, human-subjects data collection, data entry and management, data analysis
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: interpersonal communication (required), proficiency using a computer (required), proficiency using Qualtrics (recommended), proficiency using Excel (recommended)
Mentoring Philosophy
Mentoring undergraduate researchers has been the most rewarding aspect of my career. When I begin a mentorship, I prioritize learning my mentee's interests, strengths and goals, then providing scaffolding and, if necessary, educating myself to help get them achieve those goals. For example, one mentee of mine hoped to eventually earn a doctorate, and expressed great interest in studying anxiety. My lab does not typically study anxiety, but I helped her identify literature that connected her interest to my expertise, and we met frequently to discuss this literature until she generated her own research project design, which I helped her execute. Through this process, I checked in with my mentee to ensure she felt independence and ownership of her work, as well as support and guidance from me. After completing her project, this mentee was admitted to FSU's Psychology PhD program. Another mentee planned to apply to medical school and was less interested in designing her own study, but demonstrated strength in data collection. Knowing that medical programs value interpersonal skills and procedural precision, I assigned this mentee to train and supervise the others, guiding her through this role until she felt confident leading independently. Through this role, she had the opportunity to demonstrate several specific skills that medical schools ask recommendation letter writers to evaluate.To summarize, this mentor-mentee relationship will be mutually beneficial. I do not treat mentees as employees hired to complete my project, but as developing people to whom I owe guidance and support.