The "fibonacci sequence" of critical theoretical frameworks: Breaking the code of engineering education research with underrepresented populations

Abstract

Understanding how to accurately use critical theoretical frameworks can assist in analyzing the climate of engineering, its impact on underrepresented student populations, guide future research, and provide an opportunity to further improve the ways in which engineering can become more inclusive and not simply superficially diverse. In this work in progress literature review, we describe how critical frameworks are utilized and emphasized in engineering education research. The purpose of this literature review was to determine whether the critical frameworks achieved the goals of praxis and concientización. To achieve this goal, we focused on the contextualized understanding of the critical theoretical frameworks to facilitate conciencia.