TPD Research
Many TPD practitioners want to assess their TPD programs, but have backgrounds in science research and not education research. These resources will help you think about what to assess and how to assess it.
BioTAP uses the conceptual framework proposed by Reeves et al., 2015 to present the most common outcome variables to measure related to a TPD program.
Below, you'll find:
Exemplar research articles related to each outcome variable in the Reeves conceptual framework. They provide examples of typical research questions in TPD research, conventional methods, and journals that publish TPD research.
Examples of instruments related to each outcome variable in the Reeves conceptual framework.
A live Google Scholar call that highlights the most recent research in TPD.
A compilation of articles and videos to help you create and implement your own TPD research project.
Aspects of TA TPD You Can Study

Reeve's Conceptual Framework
ramework for the relationships among TPD outcome variables (blue), TPD contextual variables (yellow), and TPD moderating variables (green). The framework contains three main categories of outcomes at two levels, TA and undergraduate student.
Exemplar Articles
How these outcome variables have been previously studied. Click on the authors' names to be taken directly to the article.
TA cognition pertains to TAs’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, or beliefs about teaching, click below for exemplar research related to GTA cognition:
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Miller, Brickman, and Oliver, 2014 (knowledge, skills, attitudes)
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Gormally, Sullivan, and Szeinbaum, 2016 (knowledge, skills, beliefs)
TA teaching practices concerns the TAs’ approaches to planning, instruction, and assessment, click below for exemplar research related to TA teaching practices:
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Ridgway et al., 2017 (planning, instruction, and assessment)
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Bautista, Schussler, and Rybczynski, 2013 (instruction, assessment)
Undergraduate student outcomes centers on the knowledge and skills of TAs’ students, as well as more distal student outcomes such as retention and graduation, click below for exemplar research related to undergraduate student outcomes:
Tools for Data Collection on TA TPD
In order to further explore each of these outcome variables, as well as their relationship to moderators, contextual variables, and more, a TPD researcher needs a variety of data collection tools. Below, you'll find just a few instruments that have been previously used to measure TPD outcomes.
For more information on qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, check out more resources at the bottom of this page.
Instruments that have been previously used to measure TA cognition:
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GTA reflections using the PRIME PCK reflection template
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Discussion supported by Peer Inquiry Observation Protocol, (PIOP)
Instruments that have been previously used to measure TA teaching practices:
Instruments that have been previously used to measure undergraduate student outcomes:
TA TPD Literature Search
This Google Scholar call highlights recent research in GTA TPD. Click here to see the research!
Resources to Get You Started
The information below is a compilation of articles, book chapters and videos that can inform the creation and implementation of education research projects! This can help you get started with research on your TA TPD program.
Research Methods Videos
Produced by the CIRTL at University of Georgia & BioTAP:
Jennifer Thompson – Qualitative Research
Video 1: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_v7ylrn8r/31868161
Video 2: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_rt41hsqg/31868161
Video 3: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_4h2iiolv/31868161
Video 4: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_pvzkvr4o/31868161
Video 5: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_3n2vqfph/31868161
Video 6: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_e5uxagg1/31868161
Paula Lemons – Interviews
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Example Interview Protocol (referred to in video) 2018.Interviewing Video_Interview Protocol
Video 1: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_on6r0hh9/31868161
Video 2: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_r56hzbe9/31868161
Video 3: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_3hmbxirz/31868161
Video 4: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_mehva7ja/31868161
Video 5: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_digeygs5/31868161
Video 6: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_ssujliqj/31868161
Peggy Brickman – Survey Data
Video 1: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_sddui98c/31868161
Video 2: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_5mfnt7ew/31868161
Video 3: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_d2k3v9st/31868161
Video 4: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_f6vecxqz/31868161
Video 5: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_261mqufx/31868161
Video 6: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_w04rydl5/31868161
Tessa Andrews – Classroom Observation
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Video 4 GORPUserManual_v20160226 and recommended reference (COPUS in Smith et al. 2013)
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Video 5 recommended reference (PORTAAL in Eddy et al. 2015)
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Video 6: Read more about the two studies discussed in this video. Read about the first study of different levels of student-centered instruction here. Read more about the second study of a teaching professional development program here.
Video 1: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_3fcz9zh9/31868161
Video 2: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_0rl6nh81/31868161
Video 3: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_q2hd47lp/31868161
Video 4: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_jcf4cy25/31868161
Video 5: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_9o6er48f/31868161
Video 6: https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_2r8ainga/31868161
Toolkit Information
Background information on Education Research / Publishing Research:
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Dolan, 2007 – Grappling with the Literature of Ed Research and Practice
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Kording and Mensh, 2016 – Ten simple rules for structuring papers
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Szyjka, 2012 – Understanding research paradigms trends in science education research
Books to Inform Research Methods:
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Tools of Chemical Education Research
Example Chapters with this book:-
Using Interviews in CER Projects: Options, Considerations, and Limitations
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Using Qualitative Analysis Software To Facilitate Qualitative Data Analysis
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An Introduction to Nonparametric Statistics in Chemistry Education Research
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Ethical Treatment of the Human Participants in Chemistry Education Research
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Preparing Chemistry Education Research Manuscripts for Publication
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Boyatwzis, 1998 – Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development
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AAAS and NSF, 2012 – Describing and Measuring Undergraduate STEM Teaching Practices
Graduate Education Reports or Articles:
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Mark Connolly and Colleagues Longitudinal Study of Future STEM Scholars
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Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century – National Academies Press
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Kurdziel and Libarkin, 2003 – Research Methodologies in Science Ed. Training GTAs to Teach
Mixed Methods Research Papers and Examples
Methods Articles:
Exemplar Articles:
Qualitative Research Papers and Examples
Methods Articles:
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Libarkin and Kurdziel, 2002 – Research Methodologies in Science Ed. Qualitative Data
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Thinking about the Coding Process in Qualitative Data Analysis.pdf
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Reducing Confusion about Grounded Theory and Qualitative Content.pdf
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Series Practical guidance to qualitative research Part 1 Introduction
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Series Practical guidance to qualitative research Part 2 Context research questions and designs
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Series Practical guidance to qualitative research Part 3 Sampling data collection and analysis
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Series Practical guidance to qualitative research Part 4 Trustworthiness and publishing
Exemplar Articles:
Quantitative Research Papers
Methods Articles:
Exemplar Articles:
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Connolly et al., 2018 – The effects of doctoral teaching development on Early-career STEM Scholars
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DeChenne et al., 2015 – Modelling source of teaching self-efficacy in GTAs
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Marbach-Ad et al., 2010 – Model for using a concept inventory
Instruments for Data Collection
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Sampson, Grooms and Enderle, 2013 – Beliefs about reformed science teaching and learning survey
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Heath et al., 2010 protocols for measuring impacts on science teaching
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Corwin et al., 2015 – The Laboratory Course Assessment Survey
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Hanauer et al., 2016 – A Measure of College Student Persistence in the Sciences (PITS)
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Libarkin, 2008 – Concept Inventories in Higher Education Science
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Smith et al., 2013 – CBE-LSE Observation Protocol Characterizing University STEM Classroom Practices
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Stanhope et al., 2017 – Development of a Biological Science Quantitative Reasoning Exam (BioSQuaRE)