Educational science has consistently examined what drives adolescents to aspire to occupations in math-related fields -- and which factors, such as gender stereotypes, may drive them away. In this study, we utilized a large longitudinal data set (N = 1,092) to test whether past grades, gender, and the math level of mothers' and fathers'…

Aspirations and expectations are conceptually and empirically different. Given their differential impact on various educational outcomes, it is expected that they, and consequently their convergence, would be affected by different factors. This study examines the factors leading to high aspirations, high expectations and to their alignment by…

Examining students' attitudes towards STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields starting from middle school level is important in their career choices and future planning. However, there is a need to investigate which variables affect students' attitudes towards STEM. Here, we aimed to estimate middle school students'…

The relationship between parents and children is important for realizing developmental tasks, intra-family, and peer relationships. Self-concept and self-esteem are closely related to a person's personality and identity. This study examined the relationship between 5th grade primary school students' secure attachment to their mothers and their…

The education laws of each country establish starting cutoff dates for compulsory education which could, potentially, affect students' academic achievement. Specifically, they could be detrimental for those students whose birthday is just before the school entry cutoff, as they will be the youngest in their classroom, while it could boost the…

The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing middle school students' academic achievement. In this regard, the study investigated the impact of demographic factors and students' attitudes towards STEM on their achievement. The research sample was drawn from a city located in southeastern Turkey. Multiple regression analysis was…

The purpose of the study is to determine the knowledge and awareness of gifted children receiving education in the Science and Art Center on nanotechnology. The descriptive survey model was used in the study. The purposeful sampling method was chosen and a total of 160 students receiving education in two Science and Art Centers located in the city…

Quality of science education is under the consideration of educationists and researchers. Achievement in science subjects, which is one of the indicators of quality of science education, determines not only the students' performance but it also helps the teachers to evaluate their teaching strategies. This study is an effort to explore the factors…

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of variables such as gender, class and parental education level, family income level on motivation levels of students to learn science and do research, performance, communication, collaborative work and participation. The study group of the study was in the 2015-2016 academic year, public schools in…

Rising inequality in the United States has raised concerns about potentially widening gaps in educational achievement by socio-economic status (SES). Using assessments from LTT-NAEP [Long-Term Trend assessment administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress], Main-NAEP, TIMSS [Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study],…

Background: Parent-aimed guidance on the topic of processed foods may help limit highly processed foods in children's diets, but little is known about parent understanding and perceptions of these products. Aims: To determine how parent perceptions of processing align with processing classification systems used in research, and to identify…

Concerns about the breadth of the U.S. income distribution and limited intergenerational mobility have led to a focus on educational achievement gaps by socio-economic status (SES). Using intertemporally linked assessments from NAEP [National Assessment of Educational Progress], TIMSS [Trends in International Mathematics and Science Survey], and…

In the first systematic study of gender achievement gaps in U.S. school districts, we estimate male-female test score gaps in math and English Language Arts (ELA) for nearly 10,000 school districts in the U.S. We use state accountability test data from third through eighth grade students in the 2008-09 through 2014-15 school years. The average…

When parents bring forth children, they perceive and act on their upbringing. However, some children live with and are brought up by non-biological parents. The phenomenon of children living with non-biological parents has been a long standing practice in most societies, yet little comparative research interest had been shown to examine the…

Data from a larger study were used to identify variables that best predict children's perceived usefulness of mathematics [PUM]. Gender differences in PUM scores were also explored using a sample of 300 grade 7 children and 225 parents from February to May 2011 in Mozambique. Surveys and interviews were used to collect data. Consistent with…