Forensic Science in a Box: Impact on Self-Efficacy in Middle Schoolers

Abstract

Forensic science undergraduate programs have been on the rise in recent years, and popular crime shows have made terms like “forensic” familiar to the general public. However, many of these shows contain inaccurate depictions of the field and give prospective forensic science students unrealistic expectations. Forensic Science in a Box, created by the student author, was developed to both engage middle school students in an inquiry-based activity and expose them to a more realistic forensic science experience. A two-part forensic activity kit was created around the theme of questioned documents, which combined both forensic and chemical analysis techniques. Along with the activity, pre- and postsurveys were administered to each student to test the effectiveness of the activity as well as probe how the activity might have influenced their decisions to pursue a career in forensic science. Overall, the activity had a positive impact on students’ opinions and confidence in forensic science. Teacher feedback was also encouraging, as the activity could be utilized in a short time frame (30-40 min) and can be adapted to include more advanced topics, if desired.