ERIC Number: EJ813449
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Oct
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4308
EISSN: N/A
Motivation in High School Science Students: A Comparison of Gender Differences in Life, Physical, and Earth Science Classes
Britner, Shari L.
Journal of Research in Science Teaching, v45 n8 p955-970 Oct 2008
The aims of this study were to examine self-efficacy and other motivation variables among high school science students (n = 502); to determine the degree to which each of the four hypothesized sources of self-efficacy makes an independent contribution to students' science self-efficacy beliefs; to examine possible differences between life, physical, and Earth science classes; and to investigate patterns of gender differences that may vary among the fields of science. In Earth science classes, girls earned higher grades and reported stronger science self-efficacy. In life science classes, girls earned higher grades but did not report stronger self-efficacy, and did report higher science anxiety. In physical science, there were no gender differences in grades or self-efficacy, but girls again reported higher levels of science anxiety. For boys across science fields, science self-efficacy significantly predicted course grades and mastery experiences was the only significant predictor of self-efficacy. For girls, self-efficacy was also the strongest predictor of science grade across fields. Mastery experiences significantly predicted self-efficacy in Earth science for girls, but social persuasions, vicarious experiences, and physiological states were better predictors of science self-efficacy in life and physical science classes. Results support (Bandura, A., 1997) hypothesized sources of self-efficacy, previous research findings on self-efficacy in the domain of science, and validate the suggestion made by Lau and Roeser (2002) to disaggregate data by science field. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Grades (Scholastic), Females, Self Efficacy, Student Motivation, Earth Science, Biological Sciences, Gender Differences, Anxiety, Secondary School Science, Physical Sciences, Predictor Variables, Social Influences, Experience, Stress Variables, Emotional Response, High School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12; Grade 9; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A