Lab instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on student views about experimental physics in comparison with previous years

Physics lab instructors were forced to adapt their courses in 2020 due the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate impact these changes had on student views towards experimental physics as measured by Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental (E-CLASS). Analysis of responses from over 1600 students both spring and fall semesters performing a comparison with same 2019 shows that total E-CLASS scores not lower compared 2019. Nevertheless, Fall data, we find there is variation mean some individual questions when previous years.Received 9 March 2021Accepted 3 June 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.17.010148Published American Physical Society under terms Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution this work must maintain attribution author(s) published article’s title, journal citation, DOI.Published SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasEpistemology, attitudes, & beliefsInstructional strategiesLearning environmentProfessional TopicsFacultyLower undergraduate studentsPhysics Education Research