معرفی
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ursula Kessels (Freie Universität Berlin) is a leading professor in education research focusing on heterogeneity and education. Her work bridges basic and applied research in school and classroom contexts, drawing on educational psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology.
Research methodology emphasizes experimental designs, complemented by correlational and evaluation studies. She investigates motivational, identity-related, and attitudinal predictors of school learning, equity in education systems (especially gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities), and developed the Interests as Identity Regulation Model (IIRM) to map interactions between academic interest/achievement and identity development.
- Key research areas: Gender stereotypes in education, STEM engagement, feedback bias, school burnout, and shifting standards in evaluating stereotyped groups
- Recent projects: DFG-funded studies on performance feedback to learners with migration backgrounds and boys' educational disparities
- Collaborations span planetary sciences, health sciences, and international networks
Her 15 most recent publications (2021–2024) focus on gendered/ethnic biases in education, shifting standards theory, and identity dynamics in STEM. Topics include prosocial behavior backlash in classrooms, math career aspirations, and feedback inflation for minority students. Methodologically, she combines experimental designs, implicit association measures, and cross-national comparisons.
Key grants include DFG projects (2013–2022) and Jacobs Foundation funding (2008). She contributes to policy discussions through invited lectures at institutions like Ghent University and University of Wuppertal.
