Fresno Pacific University chemistry professor Ken Cheung, Ph.D., presented at the recent American Chemical Society Western Regional Meeting held October 25-28, 2025 in San Jose, CA
His presentation shred the findings from a four-year study of CHEM-103 General Chemistry I students and their self-efficacy. Educators define self-efficacy as the belief in one’s own capabilities to succeed or reach a higher level of performance and control over one’s own functioning.
Cheung’s research concluded that the self-efficacy of CHEM-103 students improved overall by the end of the semester, and that they had increased confidence in their ability to succeed in chemistry.
According to Cheung, this increase in students’ self-efficacy in chemistry has long-lasting benefits. “Improving students’ chemistry self-efficacy,” Cheung said, “is part and parcel of improving students’ motivation, retention rate and graduation rate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).”
Cheung also noted that General Chemistry is often viewed as a gateway course because of its high rates of withdrawal or failure.