2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering programs have long recognized the importance of capstone design as a culminating experience for students. Capstone is taken at the end of students' degree plans and allows them to work on an open-ended, real-world project focusing on research or industry innovation. Deliverables can include the development of a product prototype or proof of concept, with the final result commonly presented as part of a showcase for all projects. The curriculum is evolving to improve the students' experience, develop skills, and offer insight into industry practices. Previous work has shown that a critical factor in performance in capstone courses is a student's motivation, specifically self-efficacy. This research used the Engineering Design Self-Efficacy (EDSE) survey in the course to examine the development of motivational factors and self-reflection on personal ability. Further, auxiliary data on demographics (gender, degree, etc.) was also gathered to identify the factors that impact a student's growth.
Preliminary results show statistically significant differences between demographic cohorts. Males and mechanical engineering students felt more motivated and confident during project work, whereas females and computer science students felt more successful with the project result. Additional trends are discussed amongst other genders and fields, though statistical significance cannot be established due to sample size.