ERIC Number: EJ1141183
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jun
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0894-8453
EISSN: N/A
Recommending a Child Enter a STEM Career: The Role of Religion
Scheitle, Christopher P.; Ecklund, Elaine Howard
Journal of Career Development, v44 n3 p251-265 Jun 2017
Apparent conflicts between religion and science are often observed in the United States. One consequence of such conflicts might be that religious individuals will be less likely to recommend their children pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We examine this possibility using a nationally representative survey focused on a variety of issues related to religion and science. We find that, compared to religiously unaffiliated individuals, evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants, Catholics, and Jews are less likely to say that they would recommend a child enter the pure STEM careers of physicist, engineer, or biologist. These differences are weaker or nonexistent for the more applied STEM careers of physician and high school chemistry teacher. The religious tradition effects observed for the pure STEM careers are primarily mediated by lower levels of interest in science and higher levels of creationist views among those groups relative to the religiously unaffiliated.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Science Careers, Role of Religion, National Surveys, Religious Factors, Career Development, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Science Interests, World Views, Creationism, Occupational Aspiration, Barriers, Structural Equation Models, Mediation Theory, Parent Attitudes, Parent Influence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A