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Cultural Studies of Science Education

, Volume 11, Issue 3, pp 785–801 | Cite as

Incorporating oximeter analyses to investigate synchronies in heart rate while teaching and learning about race

  • Arnau Amat
  • Corinna Zapata
  • Konstantinos Alexakos
  • Leah D. Pride
  • Christian Paylor-Smith
  • Matthew Hernandez
Original Paper

Abstract

In this paper, we look closely at two events selected through event-oriented inquiry that were part of a classroom presentation on race. The first event was a provocative discussion about Mark Twain’s (Pudd’nhead Wilson, Harper, New York, 1899) and passing for being White. The other was a discussion on the use of the N-word. Grounded in authentic inquiry, we use ethnographic narrative, cogenerative dialogues, and video and oximeter data analyses as part of a multi-ontological approach for studying emotions. Statistical analysis of oximeter data shows statistically significant heart rate synchrony among two of the coteachers during their presentations, providing evidence of emotional synchrony, resonance, and social and emotional contagion.

Keywords

Emotions Synchrony Teaching Learning Oximeter Race 

Resumen

En el presente estudio, se investiga dos momentos que forman parte de una clase de formación del profesorado en ciencias dónde se hacía una presentación sobre la problemática racial. El primer momento, está relacionado con una provocativa conversación sobre el tema central del libro de Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson, cuya protagonista se hace pasar por blanca. El segundo momento, está relacionado con una discusión sobre el uso de la N-word. Desde un punto de vista centrado en la investigación auténtica, se utilizan narrativas etnográficas, diálogos cogenerativos, grabaciones de vídeo y datos provenientes de oxímetros como parte de un enfoque multi-ontológico para estudiar las emociones. El análisis de los datos extraídos con el oxímetro, utilizando el SPSS, muestran sincronías estadísticamente significativas entre el pulso cardíaco de los estudiantes que estaban haciendo la presentación, que nos evidencian un contagio social y emocional.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Arnau Amat
    • 1
  • Corinna Zapata
    • 2
  • Konstantinos Alexakos
    • 3
  • Leah D. Pride
    • 2
  • Christian Paylor-Smith
    • 2
  • Matthew Hernandez
    • 3
  1. 1.Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de CatalunyaBarcelonaSpain
  2. 2.The Graduate CenterCity University of New YorkNew YorkUSA
  3. 3.Brooklyn CollegeCity University of New YorkBrooklynUSA

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