The positive effect of role models in evolution instruction

Abstract

Background

Previous research has identified numerous factors to explain why students have difficulty learning about evolution. Some of these factors include a student’s background (including their religion and major of study), the type of evolution instruction, and the inclusion of the nature of science (NOS) instruction. Sparse but more recent work has investigated the impact of a religious-scientist role model to help dampen perceptions of conflict between evolutionary science and worldview. We had two research goals: (1) to identify which of these factors influence students’ learning of evolution in post-secondary education; and (2) to describe the relationships among incoming biology students’ creationist reasoning, knowledge of evolution, and perceived conflict between evolution and their worldview.

Results

The single factor linked with the reduction in both creationist reasoning and in students’ perceived conflict between evolution and their worldview through a semester was the presence of a role model. Likewise, knowledge and perceived relevance of evolution increased in sections with a role model instructor and with evidence-based evolution instruction. Otherwise, tested factors (the type of evolution instruction, inclusion of NOS, biology-major/nonmajor, GPA, or religiosity) were not shown to be associated with these three constructs. We found that in the first week of the semester students with higher knowledge of evolution had lower creationist reasoning and lower perceived conflict.

Conclusions

The single factor that collectively reduced erroneous beliefs, increased scientific knowledge, and minimized perceived conflict was the presence of a religious-scientist role model. Previous work has suggested a role model could positively impact students’ learning of evolution, yet this is the first quasi-experimental evidence supporting the importance of the course instructor as the role model in students’ learning of evolution. These findings are especially relevant to institutions with a greater proportion of religious students who could benefit from modeling to help foster their learning of evolution.

Background

Evolution is the cornerstone to modern biology. Its importance in our understanding and advancement of medicine, agriculture, environmental and species management, among other areas of science, has repeatedly been documented (Dobzhansky 1973; Fail 2008; Gould 2002; Mayr 1982; Sager 2008; Wiles 2010). However, previous reports suggest that 46% of Americans reject human evolution (Miller et al. 2006; Newport 2012). The US still lags far behind many other countries in terms of the acceptance of evolution (Miller et al. 2006; Pew 2014a).

This rejection of evolutionary science in the US mainly stems from misunderstanding of the nature of science (Dunk et al. 2017; Glaze et al. 2015) and religiosity (Barnes et al. 2017a; Glaze et al. 2015; Rissler et al. 2014). Distrust and rejection of evolutionary theory has been correlated with a belief in a Christian God-creator (Allmon 2011; Gallup 2007; Heddy and Nadelson 2013; Moore et al. 2011). Such religious beliefs are sometimes associated with fatalism, or a perception of an external locus of control, where the origins and diversity of life are attributed to divine or extraterrestrial beings (Krause 2007; Schieman et al. 2006; Wade 1996). Outside the interplay of religion and evolutionary science, overall distrust of science as a whole by the American public confounds the problem (Hokayem and BouJaoude 2008; Kahan 2013; McCright et al. 2013; Nadelson and Hardy 2015).

More recent polls continue to document low acceptance of human evolution in the US [57% (Gallup 2017) and 62% (Pew 2015) acceptance], despite declining religiosity among the American people (Pew 2013). As science educators, we hope instruction in the public education systems increases students’ understanding of evolution. However, Bowman (2008) suggests that secondary education in the US presents evolution as a concept lacking credibility as much as 40% of the time. As a result, biology education research at the university-level has focused on increasing student acceptance and understanding of evolution through instruction (Ingram and Nelson 2006; Wiles and Alters 2011).

Unfortunately understanding and acceptance of evolution, as individual constructs, are intermingled, and research describing their relationship draws mixed conclusions. Some studies report correlations between understanding, or knowledge, of evolution and acceptance of evolution (e.g., Abraham et al. 2012; Carter et al. 2015; Ingram and Nelson 2006; Nettle 2010; Manwaring et al. 2015; Rutledge and Warden 2000). Meanwhile, others contradict the idea that understanding and acceptance are related (e.g., Bishop and Anderson 1990; Lawson and Worsnop 1992; Lloyd-Strovas and Bernal 2012; Nadelson and Sinatra 2010). Additionally some published surveys contain items that confound acceptance and understanding (e.g., a student must use both their understanding of evolutionary theory and acceptance thereof to answer a question). We recognize that it can be difficult to assess both acceptance and understanding separately with certain tools that cannot disentangle the two, and even more challenging to investigate any correlation or causation between the two. Thus, this paper does not address this problem specifically. Rather, we investigated students’ change in understanding and perceptions of evolutionary theory, which includes both acceptance and understanding, and related influential factors to improve evolution education post-secondary classrooms over a semester of instruction.

Among the many factors that potentially influence students’ acceptance or understanding of evolution highlighted in the literature, four are consistently identified as key drivers. The first factor, linked with both understanding and acceptance, is students’ difficulty finding congruence between evolution and their personal beliefs (Lawson and Worsnop 1992; Lloyd-Strovas and Bernal 2012; Manwaring et al. 2015) or prior life experiences (Carter et al. 2015; Moore et al. 2011). A student’s worldview is sculpted by religion, culture, politics, and education. Generally, more conservative and/or religious individuals have lower acceptance of evolution (Mazur 2005; Nadelson and Hardy 2015). For religious students, new scientific knowledge may be only superficially integrated for fear it may displace or discredit their previous worldviews (Allmon 2011; Schilders et al. 2009). Significant carry-over effects from erroneous content in high school biology courses has been shown to negatively impact students’ knowledge and perceptions of evolution (Carter et al. 2015; Moore et al. 2009; Moore and Cotner 2009; O’Brien et al. 2009).

A second factor, again linked with both understanding and acceptance, is lack of effective evolution instruction (Lloyd-Strovas and Bernal 2012). A clear link between university instruction and students’ increased knowledge and acceptance of evolution is debated (Abraham et al. 2012; Ingram and Nelson 2006; Lawson and Worsnop 1992); however, certain approaches may lead to better student outcomes. For instance, evolution instruction using human examples rather than non-primate animals or other organisms could reduce misunderstandings and increase acceptance (Nettle 2010; Pobiner 2012, 2016). Helping students actively draw connections between evolutionary science and their everyday lives can be a transformative experience that promotes conceptual change (Heddy and Sinatra 2013). Evidence-based instruction, where students draw conclusions directly from real data, can facilitate growth in evolutionary knowledge (Romine and Todd 2017).

A third factor is students’ understanding of the nature of science (NOS) that previous literature has associated with evolution acceptance (Cavallo and McCall 2008; Lloyd-Strovas and Bernal 2012; Lombrozo et al. 2008; Rutledge and Mitchell 2002) and potentially even with evolution understanding (Nehm and Schonfeld 2007). Even when controlling for confounding factors, including background knowledge and positive attitudes towards science, evolution acceptance is positively correlated with an understanding of NOS (Lombrozo et al. 2008). Acknowledging students’ preconceptions about the diversity and origins of life, in parallel with instruction based on scientific explanations, may dispel their internal conflict and increase their evolution acceptance (Matthews 2001).

Fourth, a student’s major of study is a factor previously associated with both understanding and acceptance of evolution and also serves as a proxy for student interest and potentially their past exposure to evolution. Nadelson and Southerland (2010) found that both evolution understanding and acceptance was positively associated with the amount of university-level biology coursework a student had taken, which tends to be greater for those majoring in biology. Students enrolled in an introductory biology course for majors outside of biology tend to have lower acceptance and understanding of evolution than students enrolled in a biology majors’ introductory course (Partin et al. 2013). Within the same biology course, science and engineering students had greater evolutionary knowledge and acceptance levels compared to students of other majors (Hermann 2016). Paz-y-Miño and Espinosa (2009) describe that significantly more non-majors than majors felt uncomfortable learning about evolution because it conflicted with their faith, suggesting that a student’s major may be related to their acceptance of evolution.

A final, fifth factor that is not commonly linked to students’ acceptance or understanding of evolution, but that we hypothesized may be important in our study population, is the presence of a role model—one who both accepts evolution and is religious. Religious-scientist role models have been shown in previous research to positively influence students’ views on the relationship between religion and evolution acceptance (Winslow et al. 2011; Barnes and Brownell 2016; Barnes et al. 2017b, c). Over 80% of our study population are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints (LDS), also known as the Mormons. Members of this religious population often hold deep-seated beliefs against evolution (Heddy and Nadelson 2013; Manwaring et al. 2015). In a Pew (2009) study, the LDS denomination had the second lowest agreement that evolution is the best explanation for the origin of man (22%), well below the reported national average (48%). In a more recent poll 42% of Mormons surveyed agreed with the statement that “Humans and other living things have evolved over time” (Pew 2014b). While acceptance rates have increased within this group, their rates are still below the national average of 58%, and Mormon students are often unaware of the LDS Church’s neutral stance on evolution (Manwaring et al. 2015). Notably, Mormonism places a large value on authority and role models (Crapo 1987), and faculty identity has been demonstrated to impact student actions in other fields (Bettinger and Long 2005).

Social cognitive career theory posits that modeling plays a critical role in self-efficacy and directing occupational interests (Lent et al. 2002; Gibson 2004). Moreover, a body of literature suggests that role models can buffer the impact of stereotype threat (Marx and Roman 2002; Stout et al. 2011). In the current study, stereotype threat may manifest as students’ concern about conforming to low acceptance of evolution among Mormons. Therefore a positive role model, i.e., a professor who is both an outwardly devout Mormon and a scientist accepting of evolution, may allow students to be more open to learning about evolution, which may change both their acceptance and understanding of evolution. Winslow et al. (2011) is the only other study to investigate a link between faculty role models and learning of evolution; their work was based on interviews rather than outcomes and focused solely on evolution acceptance.

We were interested in examining students’ change in understanding and acceptance of evolutionary theory over a semester of instruction. Specifically, our first research goal was to identify which factor(s) have the greatest influence on students’ understanding and acceptance of evolution in a university setting. We focused our research on three testable factors that we as the researchers could manipulate: (1) evolution-instruction approach (conceptual with plant and non-primate animal examples versus evidence-based including human examples); (2) presence or absence of NOS instruction; and (3) presence or absence of a role model. We also considered student characteristics outside of our control: (1) class (i.e., biology majors versus non-majors); (2) religiosity; and (3) grade point average. We measured students’ understanding and acceptance of evolution using three constructs: creationist reasoning, knowledge and relevance of evolution, and perceived conflict between evolution and their worldview. Our second research goal was to describe the bivariate relationships among these three constructs in university students measured during the first week of an introductory biology course to describe students’ preconceptions and how they interrelate.

Methods

Participants and survey instruments

We surveyed students in eight sections of introductory biology at a public post-secondary institution in the western US. Our full sample included 1339 students, surveyed during Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Fall 2013. Surveys were administered online during the first and last weeks of each semester, and responses were collected using Survey Monkey (https://www.surveymonkey.com). Many students did not complete both pre and post-surveys or unique identifier information was inadequate to link their responses longitudinally (478 students), or key demographic variables of interest were missing (42 students); therefore, only 819 students who had complete pre- and post-data for the three constructs plus grade-point average (GPA) and religiosity scores were retained for analyses. Of those, 30% were freshman, 41% were sophomores, 21% were juniors, 6% were seniors, and 3% were post-baccalaureate. The mean GPA on a 0.0–4.0 scale was 3.38. Most of the students considered themselves religious; 44% (363 of 819 students) self-identified as “very religious” and 75% (613 students) classified their degree of religiosity as “quite a bit” or “very religious”, while the remaining quarter classified themselves as “moderately”, “a little” or “not at all” religious. Eighty-four percent identified themselves as Mormon. Two instructors taught the surveyed sections; one instructor taught five sections and the other taught three sections.

An abbreviated form of the Evolutionary Attitudes and Literacy Survey (EALS; Hawley et al. 2011; Short and Hawley 2012) was used to quantify student religiosity (RA), creationist reasoning (CR), and understanding of the knowledge/relevance of evolution (KR). The latter two constructs represent a combination of student understanding and acceptance of evolution (as classified by the current authors; Appendix 1: Table 3). Our version of this survey contained 55 of the original 80 items in 11 lower-order factors representing the three higher-order constructs identified above (Appendix 1: Table 3). We also used seven items to quantify a fourth construct: students’ perceived conflict between science and their worldview (CO; Bailey et al. 2011), which was a measure of conflict (Appendix 1: Table 3). All 62 items within these four constructs were rated on a 5-level Likert scale. All four constructs were highly or acceptably reliable (Nunnally and Bernstein 1994) using our study population (Cronbach alpha: RA = 0.95, CR = 0.89, KR = 0.83, CO = 0.71). Eleven items were reversed scored, and then items within each construct were averaged for analysis. Surveys also included demographic questions and longitudinal identifiers. GPA was the only demographic variable we included as an explanatory variable of interest as a proxy of students’ overall performance in college.

Treatments

We addressed four possible drivers of positive change in student knowledge and acceptance of evolution (Table 1). First, we hypothesized that the type of evolution-instruction content would be a main driver in change. We implemented two types of instruction, conceptual and evidence-based. The conceptual instruction presented evolution as a set of concepts (e.g., fitness, natural selection, gene flow, genetic drift) which used all plant or non-primate animal examples, while the evidence-based instruction presented evidence for evolution using published data, including human examples. The evidence-based instruction required that students construct foundational principles of evolutionary theory using evidence from data, and this evidence often conflicted with creationist religious constructs.

Table 1 Number of students within each of the treatment combinations

Second, literature suggests that inclusion of nature of science (NOS) instruction is important for students’ evolution acceptance and understanding. Four sections lacked any explicit NOS instruction, while the other four dedicated several class sessions to the NOS. This NOS instruction framed science as one of many ways of knowing and clearly articulated the types of claims science can and cannot address. Students were shown images and direct quotations of well-known religious entities (i.e., leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama) which clearly acknowledge science and religions as each having their place in answering different questions of the human experience.

Third, the literature suggests that biology majors have greater knowledge and less conflict with evolution compared to students of other majors. Four sections were from a non-majors course, while the remaining four sections were from a biology-majors course; both represent the introductory biology course for each group of students.

Fourth, an instructor who both accepts evolution and is openly devoted to his/her Mormon faith may influence students’ understanding and acceptance of evolution as a role model. One of our participating instructors explicitly served as this religious-scientist in two sections and as a non-role model during one section by avoiding any reference or clues that he/she was a highly devout Mormon. The other instructor who never mentioned their personal religious beliefs taught the remaining five sections. Teaching assistants who interacted with students informally reported that many students perceived their non-role model instructor as a non-believer. During a class discussion, one student even pointedly asked their non-role model instructor if they believed in God, implying doubt.

Other explanatory variables

In addition to the four explanatory variables that characterized classrooms (i.e., type of evolution instruction, inclusion of NOS, major/non-major class, presence of a role model), we included our measure of religiosity (Religious Activity; a higher-order construct derived from the EALS; Hawley et al. 2011; Short and Hawley 2012) and GPA as possible predictors of our three constructs. Religiosity often drives an individual’s worldview that can then influence their perceptions of evolution (Mazur 2005; Nadelson and Hardy 2015). We anticipated that GPA may serve as a surrogate for a student’s overall university performance and may relate to their ability to learn new information.

Unit of analysis

The statistical analyses assume that each student is independent of all other students. In actuality, students are clustered by section, and all students in the same section receive the same “treatment” (i.e., the same instructor delivering the same content to all students at the same time). Ideally, the appropriate experimental unit would be a section; however, time and resources necessitated deviations from this analytical standard. Using students as independent replicates is classical pseudoreplication ( Hurlbert 1984) and results in liberal hypothesis tests; consequently, we implemented a conservative approach to assessment of “significance”.

Data analyses

We conducted separate analyses for creationist reasoning (CR), knowledge and relevance of evolution (KR), and conflict between evolution and worldview (CO) scores using statistical models with the same structure. Fixed effects factors in the statistical model included the four explanatory variables that characterized class sections (i.e., type of evolution instruction, inclusion of NOS, major/non-major class, presence of a role model), GPA and baseline religiosity score, plus the baseline construct score to assess change over the semester at the individual student level. Due to the lack of data for many combinations of class section factors (Table 1), no interactions among the four class section factors were included, and we considered probable bias as we interpreted results. We included the three-way interactions of GPA, baseline construct score and each of the four class section factors, and the three-way interactions of religiosity score, baseline construct score and each class section factor. GPA, religiosity score, and baselines scores for CR, KR, and CO were each centered on their respective overall means. Reported means and standard errors were estimated at the overall means of baseline construct scores, GPA, and religiosity. As needed to interpret and depict interactions, means were estimated at the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of baseline construct scores. Data computations were made using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS/STAT 14.3 in the SAS System for Windows 9.4 TS1M5. Model assumptions of normality, homogeneity of variance, and linearity were evaluated using graphical assessment of residuals.

Results

Descriptive statistics for baseline scores for each construct for each of the four class section factors are presented in Table 2.

Table 2 Descriptive statistics for baseline construct scores for each class-section factor

Factors driving creationist reasoning, evolutionary knowledge, and conflict

Our first research goal was to identify the main drivers of change in student knowledge and acceptance of evolution, using three constructs. In general, creationist reasoning (CR) scores decreased over the semester (Fig. 1a). The magnitude of the decrease in CR scores depended upon presence or absence of a role model instructor and baseline CR scores. On average, CR scores were lower for students in sections with a role-model instructor (role model main effect: F_1,789 = 15.47, p < 0.001). This role model effect was more pronounced for students with lower baseline CR scores (role model x baseline interaction: F_1,789 = 12.37, p < 0.001) and was not evident at high baseline CR scores. Means and standard errors for role model presence and absence, respectively, were 1.77 (0.065) and 2.12 (0.046) (t₇₈₉ = 4.64, p < 0.001) at the 10th percentile; 2.39 (0.040) and 2.52 (0.032) (t₇₈₉ = 3.55, p < 0.001) at the 50th percentile; and 2.81 (0.060) and 2.80 (0.050) (t₇₈₉ = − 0.30, p = 0.768) at the 90th percentile. There was no evidence that type of evolution instruction, inclusion of NOS, or major/nonmajor class affected creationist reasoning scores. Neither GPA or baseline religiosity scores were shown to be associated with CR scores or to modify the effects of class section factors.

Fig. 1

The effect of presence or absence of a role model instructor on creationist reasoning (a), knowledge and relevance (b), and conflict (c) scores. Model-based estimates (least squares mean ± one standard error) are computed at three different baseline scores (the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles) to illustrate how the role model effect varies with baseline score. Symbols are shifted horizontally to avoid overlap. The dashed line represents equivalence of baseline and end-of-semester scores. Means below the line depict decreased scores over the semester; means above the line depict increased scores

Knowledge and perceived relevance of evolution (KR) scores generally increased over the semester (Fig. 1b). The magnitude of the increase in KR scores depended upon presence or absence of a role model instructor and baseline KR scores. On average, KR scores were higher for students in sections with a role-model instructor (role model main effect: F_1,789 = 108.40, p < 0.001). This role model effect was more pronounced for students with higher baseline KR scores (role model × baseline interaction: F_1,789 = 10.22, p = 0.001). At all three percentiles of baseline KR, the KR score mean for role model presence was higher than the mean for role model absence. Means and standard errors for role model presence and absence, respectively, were 3.55 (0.062) and 3.30 (0.052) (t₇₈₉ = − 5.43, p < 0.001) at the 10th percentile; 3.91 (0.041) and 3.53 (0.034) (t₇₈₉ = − 10.41, p < 0.001) at the 50th percentile; and 4.38 (0.060) and 3.83 (0.045) (t₇₈₉ = − 7.54, p < 0.001) at the 90th percentile. KR scores at the end of the semester were higher for evidence-based instruction (3.92 ± 0.056) than conceptual (3.55 ± 0.079). We determined that there was no evidence that inclusion of NOS or major/nonmajor class affected KR scores. Neither GPA or baseline religiosity scores were shown to be associated with KR scores or to modify the effects of class section factors.

Perceived conflict between evolution and worldview (CO) scores at the end of the semester were lower for students with a role-model instructor (role model main effect: F_1,789 = 87.45, p < 0.001) (Fig. 1c). The magnitude of this role model effect depended upon baseline CO. The role model effect was more pronounced at lower baseline CO scores (role model × baseline interaction: F_1,789 = 11.69, p = 0.001). At all three percentiles of baseline CO, the CO score mean for role model presence was lower than the mean for role model absence. Means (and standard errors) for role model presence and absence, respectively, were 1.25 (0.085) and 2.08 (0.074) (t₇₈₉ = 6.52, p < 0.001) at the 10th percentile; 2.01 (0.050) and 2.54 (0.043) (t₇₈₉ = 9.50, p < 0.001) at the 50th percentile; and 2.56 (0.077) and 2.87 (0.061) (t₇₈₉ = 5.40, p < 0.001) at the 90th percentile. For students with a role model instructor, CO scores decreased over the semester; the decrease was greater for students with higher baseline CO scores. For students without a role-model instructor, the direction of change in CO scores depended upon baseline CO scores; CO scores increased at low baseline CO, increased slightly at mid-baseline CO, and decreased slightly at high baseline CO. There was no evidence that type of evolution instruction, inclusion of NOS, or major/nonmajor class affected perceived conflict scores. Neither GPA or baseline religiosity scores were shown to be associated with CO scores or to modify the effects of class section factors.

Relationships among constructs

Our second research goal was to describe patterns among each of our three constructs; specifically, how students’ creationist reasoning and their perceived conflict between evolution and their worldview relate to their knowledge and perceived relevance of evolution. We used pre-survey data only to focus on relationships established prior to biology instruction. The first week of the semester, students in our population on average did not have strong creationist (CR) views (mean CR = 2.67 on a 5-point scale), which was interesting given the high degree of religiosity (mean RA = 4.27 on a 5-point scale). On average students began the semester with moderate knowledge (KR) of evolution (mean KR = 3.41 on a 5-point scale) and relatively low perceived conflict (mean CO = 2.38 on a 5-point scale). Students with lower CR scores before biology instruction tended to have lower CO scores (Spearman r = 0.28) and higher KR scores (Spearman r= − 0.52; Fig. 2). Students with higher KR scores had lower perceived CO (Spearman r= − 0.34; Fig. 2) and reported lower religiosity (Spearman r = − 0.20).

Fig. 2

Pairwise scatterplots for pre-data of our three constructs creationist reasoning (CR), conflict (CO), and knowledge and relevance (KR) and grade-point average (GPA) and religiosity scores. Corresponding Spearman’s correlations are reported in the lower panels

Discussion

Knowledge is power

Prior to biology instruction, we found students with lower creationist reasoning and lower perceived conflict between science and their worldview had higher knowledge of evolution. While our study design does not allow us to draw causal inference among variables, these significant relationships highlight two important findings. First, incoming students with deeply held creationist beliefs (i.e., high CR scores) tended to begin the semester with less knowledge of evolution. However, creationist reasoning generally declined following a semester of biology instruction, which may be tied with an increase in evolutionary knowledge.

Second, incoming students who perceive little conflict between evolution and their personal worldview are more knowledgeable about evolutionary science. A semester of evolution instruction, however, did not always reduce perceived conflict in our study. Yet if instruction can successfully lower students’ conflict, then they may be more open to learning more evolutionary science. These patterns suggest that evolutionary knowledge does not devalue a student’s religious identity but may complement other ways of knowing while minimizing misconceptions. These findings may ease tensions for religious students, who often face external pressure to reject evolution, by affirming that learning about evolution does not degrade the devotion to their faith (Winslow et al. 2011). Yasri and Mancy (2012) identify multiple approaches to low conflict, including compatibility, where science and religion address separate questions; coalescence, where science is God’s work (e.g., theistic evolution); or complementarity, where each fills the gaps of the other.

While lacking support in our study, improving understanding of the NOS is elsewhere associated with greater acceptance of evolution (Dunk et al. 2017), which may further remedy high conflict perceived by students. Barnes et al. (2017b) found supplemental NOS discussions supported students’ learning of evolution; religious students became aware that compatibility was an option, while nonreligious students recognized that religiosity does not necessarily interfere with one’s understanding of evolution.

Role models matter

In our study, the presence of a role model who both outwardly accepts evolution and is devoted to their faith is the main driver in increasing student knowledge and their understanding of the relevance of evolution, and reducing creationist reasoning and perceived conflict between evolution and a student’s personal worldview. While the literature suggests that the type of evolution instruction and student population’s major of study influences their acceptance and knowledge of evolution, we did not find the latter factor to be a strong predictor. Yet evidence-based content was associated with greater gains in evolutionary knowledge over instruction using conceptual content only.

Role models (e.g., women in science) have long been recognized to positively impact students’ performance and attitudes in science and math (Marx and Roman 2002; Evans and Whigham 1995). Barnes and Brownell (2017) recently identified the presence of a role model as one of six important culturally competent practices in evolution education. Students themselves often credit their lack of conflict to past science or religion instructors (Borgerding et al. 2017). This may be especially true in the case of evolution instruction, where it may be inconceivable to some students that such a combination (i.e., acceptance of evolution and devotion to one’s faith) actually exists (Winslow et al. 2011). Our study population, comprising 84% self-identified Mormons, may benefit even more than a more heterogeneous student population, since Mormonism places a high value on authority and role models. Manwaring et al. (2015) demonstrated that after a discussion among the instructor and students about reconciling evolution with religion, students recognized that LDS doctrine is neutral towards evolution, which empowered the students to form positive viewpoints on evolution.

The presence of a role model positively influenced many aspects of our students’ learning about evolution, including increasing accurate knowledge (KR), reducing unsupported ideas (CR), and reducing conflict (CO) over a semester. Previous literature suggests that the role model benefit can be described by identification theories (i.e., where students are motivated to foster perceived similarity with a role model) and social learning theories (i.e., where students learn skills or content from a role model; Akbulut 2016). From the multi-faceted benefit demonstrated in our findings, biology students in a highly religious institution may benefit from the heuristic and self-definitional aspects of a role model.

Although the presence of a faculty role model was resoundingly the main driver in changing students’ understanding and acceptance of evolution, the baseline value of each construct mediated the size of the role model effect. The presence of a role model improved construct outcomes in general, but was particularly effective for students who did not begin the semester with strong creationist beliefs, who were already knowledgeable, and who were not conflicted. Rissler et al. (2014) found a similar trend where the magnitude of change in acceptance decreased with increasing student religiosity, as measured by attendance at religious services. Manwaring et al. (2015) describe that religiosity determined their starting acceptance level, but that religiosity was not associated with how much their acceptance changed over a semester. While the instructors of this latter study (at Brigham Young University, an institution owned by the LDS Church) were likely “religious scientist role models” as well, the student body in our population was more heterogeneous in their levels of religiosity that likely allowed us to detect these differences.

For other students, the effect of a role model was still generally positive but had less impact. Notably students with low conflict in the absence of a role model exhibited increased conflict at the end of the semester. Prior to instruction, these students may have perceived compatibility of evolutionary ideas and their personal worldview; yet, in the absence of a role model, the strict focus on science perhaps left their personal beliefs feeling unsupported. A key recommendation by Schilders et al. (2009) is to dedicate time towards exploring differing worldviews and the potential tension between evolution and some worldviews. This final finding represents the single damaging effect of not having a religious-scientist role model, while the other effects we report represent increasing the size of the benefit otherwise seen simply following biology instruction.

Recommendations for instructors

Given our findings, the presence of a faculty role model may be a successful way to improve student understanding and perceptions of evolution in populations similar to the one studied here. Yet how does a nonreligious faculty member reach their religious students? In our role model absent treatment, the faculty member discussed accepting views of respected religious authority figures; however, simply telling students that such people or ideas exist is clearly insufficient. Barnes et al. (2017b) demonstrated reduced perceived conflict through a class visit by a religious biologist who discussed his acceptance in conjunction with his faith.

We are unclear if it was the physical presence of a role model (i.e., in contrast to images and quotes of role models) or the personal connection of the role model being their instructor that mattered. In other contexts, Marx and Roman (2002) suggest that the physical presence of a role model alone was inadequate. Further, Winslow et al. (2011) report that a role model in name (i.e., simply stating that someone accepts both evolution and has religious faith) is not sufficient, but that a successful role model must demonstrate their desirable attributes (e.g., lack of conflict between science and their worldview) through action.

Two previous studies (Barnes et al. 2017b; Evans and Whigham 1995) successfully used 1–3 day guest speakers to serve as role models. Both of these studies, however, focused on shifts in attitudes or acceptance of evolution and not on understanding of the science itself. It is unclear if short, informal exposure to a religious scientist could encourage enough change in mindset to induce learning gains and reductions in misconceptions. Undoubtedly, this question needs to be addressed by future research.

Appendix

See Table 3.

Table 3 Likert-scale items used in our survey to measure student understanding and acceptance of evolution, derived from Hawley et al. (2011) and Short and Hawley (2012) (EALS) and Bailey et al. (2011) (indicated with *)