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Overview:

This research project explored the professional social responsibility attitudes of engineering students and working engineers. The primary contributions included the development of a new framework (the Professional Responsibility Development Model, PSRDM), the development of an instrument to measure social responsibility attitudes among engineering students (Engineering Professional Responsibility Assessment, EPRA), and data on differences among engineering students in their social responsibility attitudes (based on gender, rank, discipline, religious attitudes, and institution). The research used a mixed-methods approach, including extensive quantitative data and qualitative data (interviews, open-ended survey responses). The research found some evidence of decreasing social responsibility attitudes over time, similar to the "culture of disengagement". The research used a mixed-methods approach, including extensive quantitative data and qualitative data (interviews, open-ended survey responses).

Funding for the project came from the National Science Foundation, Division of Engineering Education and Centers, Award #1158863. 

• PI: Angela R. Bielefeldt (University of Colorado Boulder)
• Research team: Nathan Canney (dissertation research; formerly instructor at Seattle University, currently engineer at CYS Structural Engineers) and Greg Rulifson (dissertation research; formerly assistant teaching professor Colorado School of Mines, currently AAAS fellow). Undergraduate research assistants: Whitney Thomas and Tess Bowling.

Journal Publications:

1. N. Canney and A. Bielefeldt. 2015. A Framework for the Development of Social Responsibility in Engineers. International Journal of Engineering Education. vol. 31, no. 1(B), pp. 414-424.
2. N.E. Canney and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2016. Validity and Reliability Evidence of the Engineering Professional Responsibility Assessment Tool. Journal of Engineering Education. vol. 105, issue 3, pp. 452-477.
3. A.R. Bielefeldt and N. Canney. 2014. Impacts of Service-Learning on the Professional Social Responsibility Attitudes of Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº. International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering: Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship. vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 47-63.
4. N.E. Canney and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2015. Differences in Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº' Views of Social Responsibliity between Disciplines. Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice. vol. 141, issue 4.
5. N.E. Canney and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2015. Gender Differences in the Social Responsibility Attitudes of Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº and How They Change Over Time. Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering. vol. 21, issue 3, pp. 215-237. DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2015011109.
6. A.R. Bielefeldt and N.E. Canney. 2016. Relationships between religion, spirituality, and socially responsible engineering. Engineering Studies. vol. 8, issue 1,
7. A.R. Bielefeldt and N.E. Canney. 2016. Humanitarian Aspirations of Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº: Differences between Disciplines and Institutions. Journal of Humanitarian Engineering. vol. 4, no. 1.
8. G. Rulifson and A. Bielefeldt. 2017. Motivations to Leave Engineering: Through a Lens of Social Responsibility. Engineering Studies, 9 (3),
9. G. Rulifson and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2019. Evolution of Â鶹ÒùÔº' Varied Conceptualizations About Socially Responsible Engineering: A Four Year Longitudinal Study. Science and Engineering Ethics. 25, 939-974. 
10. G. Rulifson and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2019. Learning social responsibility: Evolutions of undergraduate students' predicted engineering futures. International Journal of Engineering Education. 35 (2), 572-584. 
11. A.R. Bielefeldt and N.E. Canney. 2018. Working engineers' satisfaction with helping people and society through their jobs. European Journal of Engineering Education. Published online 20 May 2018.  
12. N. Canney and A. Bielefeldt. 2020. Collegiate service engagement correlations with engineering job selection and satisfaction. International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering. 15 (1), 1-17. 

Conference Paper Publications:

1. A.R. Bielefeldt. 2021. Intersectional complexities of race/ethnicity and gender in engineering students’ professional social responsibility attitudes. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition.
2. G. Rulifson, A.R. Bielefeldt. 2020. Health Stress and Support System Narratives of Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. 15 pp. Best Diversity Paper from Engineering Ethics Division. https://peer.asee.org/34722
3. A.R. Bielefeldt, G. Rulifson. 2020. Undergraduate Student Benefits from Involvement in K-12 Outreach. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. 14 pp. https://peer.asee.org/35415
4. Bielefeldt, A.R., G. Rulifson, and N.E. Canney. 2019. Social Responsibility Related to Global Experiences and Interests of U.S. Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Best paper award from International Division. 20 pp. https://peer.asee.org/33274
5. Bielefeldt, A.R., N.E. Canney, and G. Rulifson. 2019. Military-Bound and Veteran Student Views on Engineering Social Responsibility. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. 19 pp. https://peer.asee.org/33109
6. G. Rulifson and A. Bielefeldt. 2018. Influence of Internships on Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº' Attitudes about Socially Responsible Engineering. Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference. San Jose CA. 6 pp.
7. A.R. Bielefeldt and G. Rulifson. 2018. Environmental Considerations in Engineering: Â鶹ÒùÔº' Goals and Journeys. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition.  15 pp. https://peer.asee.org/30434
8. G. Rulifson and A. Bielefeldt. 2017. Fourth-Year Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº' Descriptions of the Importance of Improving Society Through their Engineering Careers. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Columbus OH. 18 pp. https://peer.asee.org/28384
9. A.R. Bielefeldt and N.E. Canney. 2016. Perspectives of Engineers on Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. New Orleans. 18 pp. DOI 10.18260/p.25892. https://peer.asee.org/25892
10. N.E. Canney, A.R Bielefeldt, G. Rulifson. 2016. Exploring Interviews as Validity Evidence for the Engineering Professional Responsibility Assessment. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. New Orleans. 15 pp. DOI 10.18260/p.26851. https://peer.asee.org/26851
11. N.E. Canney, A.R. Bielefeldt, M. Russu. 2015. Which Courses Influence Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº' Views of Social Responsibility? American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Seattle WA. 15 pp. DOI 10.18260/p.25071. https://peer.asee.org/25071
12. G. Rulifson, N.E. Canney, and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2015. Service-Motivated Â鶹ÒùÔº' Transitions to Industry. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Seattle WA. 10 pp. DOI 10.18260/p.24705. https://peer.asee.org/24705
13. N.E. Canney and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2015. Volunteerism in Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº and Its Relation to Social Responsiblity. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Seattle WA. 12 pp. DOI 10.18260/p.25046. https://peer.asee.org/25046
14. G. Rulifson and A.R. Bielefeldt. 2015. Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº' Varied and Changing Views of Social Responsiblity. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Seattle WA. 16 pp. DOI 10.18260/p.23981. https://peer.asee.org/23981
15. N. Canney, A.R. Bielefeldt, M. Russu. 2015. How Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº Define Social Responsibility. Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference.  Oct. 21-24, El Paso, TX.
16. A.R. Bielefeldt and N.E. Canney. 2014. Social Responsiblity Attitudes of First-Year Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº and the Impact of Courses. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Indianapolis. 16 pp. https://peer.asee.org/23022
17. G.A. Rulifson, A.R. Bielefeldt, W. Thomas. 2014. Understanding of Social Responsibilityby First Year Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº: Ethical Foundations and Courses. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Indianapolis. 27 pp. https://peer.asee.org/23224
18. N. Canney and A. Bielefeldt. 2013. Examining the Correlation between Religion and Social Responsibility in Engineering Â鶹ÒùÔº. 43^rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference. Oct. 23-26. Oklahoma City, OK.
19. N.E. Canney, T. Bowling, A.R. Bielefeldt. 2013. In their own words: Engineering students' views on the relationship between the engineering profession and society. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition. Atlanta GA. 11 pp. https://peer.asee.org/19738

Book Chapter Publications:

1. Bielefeldt, A.R. 2018. Professional Social Responsibility in Engineering. Chapter 3 in: Social Responsibility. I. Muenstermann, Editor. InTech Publishing. 
2. N. Canney. 2016. Shaping Future Engineers through Service in Engineering Education. Chapter 7 in: Engineering Professionalism. U. Jorgensen & S. Brodersen, Eds. Sense Publishers. pp. 125-144.