Background: Females are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields all over the world. To encourage more girls to choose STEM majors and careers, it is critical to increase their interest in STEM careers. Many studies have investigated the factors that influence females' entry into STEM fields, but few…

Based on the school to prison pipeline that has garnered a great amount of attention in the past decade, many studies have underscored the need for Black male teacher presence in schools. However, not much beyond rhetoric has taken place to change educational policy or practices. While the student body in American K-12 education has become…

The United States government recently enacted a number of policies designed to increase the number of American born students graduating with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), especially among women and racial and ethnic minorities. This study examines how the earnings benefits of choosing a STEM major vary both by…

There have been many efforts in recent years to draw more women into STEM fields. While women have made gains, they are still far less likely than men to major in such fields, especially engineering and computer science. Why? This article presents the responses and the thoughts of a group of scholars and experts.

The declining participation of women in the computer-related professions is a concern to academia and business. There appears to be a complex set of factors influencing the selection of a major and completing the degree. A case study of 25 undergraduate women explored, in detail, the events, conditions, and relationships that affected the decision…

The validity of scores on the Strong Interest Inventory (SII) for Asian American college students has not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the evidence of validity of the SII Occupational Scale scores for predicting college major choices of Asian American women and men and White women and men. The sample included 186 female and…

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Young Men, the author examined the relationship between predicted future earnings for five fields of study and college students' choice of major. Results indicate that individuals are likely to choose majors offering better future earnings rather than beginning earnings. (Author/JOW)

Assessed predictability of Holland's Investigative personality--Self-Directed Search (SDS)--and three consistency levels over seven-year period. Results indicated that for Investigative-type males, SDS has moderately high efficiency in predicting actual job entry, graduate major, and ideal and projected career plans. Differential predictability of…

Addressed relative validities of expressed choice v inventoried interests for predicting college major and career choice outcomes. Males provided data before college and three years later. Results highlight the importance of expressed interests in predicting vocational behavior and suggest ways in which expressed and inventoried interests might be…

For 151 male graduates of the University of North Dakota, expressed choices measured by preferences made as high school seniors on the ACT Student Profile Section were significantly more accurate predictors of graduating college major and of career entry occupation than were their Vocational Preference Inventory high point codes. (Author)

The Omnibus Personality Inventory score patterns of graduates in majors classified into five Holland occupational categories were compared. It was concluded that separate theories of occupational choice for males and females are required if the theories are to be based on personality constructs. (Author)

Fifty men classed as career-traditional tended to endorse antifemininity, toughness, homophobic attitudes, and restrictive emotionality compared to 50 career-nontraditionals. The groups did not differ in status norms, attitudes about work-family conflicts, or difficulties with success, power, and competition. (SK)

The different preferences for occupational roles and college majors of the recent college graduates in this study account for one-third to two-thirds of the gender differences in earnings three years after graduation. The implications for estimating labor market discrimination are discussed. (SK)