Curiosity,Connection,and Creating Value: Applying an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Upper-Division Sociology Courses

Abstract

An entrepreneurial mindset is action-oriented and characterized by adaptation to novel circumstances. The 3Cs framework (curiosity, connections, creating value) was developed to promote this mindset among engineering students. The current study uses a mixed methods approach to (1) demonstrate how the 3Cs can be translated into activities for sociology courses and (2) assess student perceptions of the activities. In anonymous surveys (N = 389 responses), students agreed that the cooperative activities fostered curiosity, helped them to make connections with prior knowledge and the real world, and created societal value. Students learned novel information, considered divergent perspectives, and were enthusiastic about the team-based nature of the activities. Regression models demonstrated that perceptions were mostly similar across gender and college major. The findings suggest the 3Cs may help students develop core concepts and competencies of the sociological literacy framework, such as their sociological eye and the application of sociological knowledge to novel situations.