In this dissertation study, I aimed to 1) investigate gender patterns in students' career aspirations, in both STEM and non-STEM fields, and 2) identify factors contributing to persistent gender differences within specific STEM disciplines. Drawing on Gottfredson's (1983) model of circumscription and compromise, I examined gender patterns and…

Undecided students who self-identify as uncertain of their academic path represent a unique population to support from an academic advising perspective. In a sample of 257,813 students who entered 243 four-year institutions nationally, this study examined the relationship between students who selected undecided as their intended college major and…

This research study was conducted to determine what motivational factors influenced female and minority students to pursue a career in healthcare. Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, this quantitative study suggested that there are three distinct motivational factors influencing female and minority students to pursue a healthcare as their…

Using a mixed-method approach, researchers examined college instructors' use of a virtual lab simulation library, Labster, students' perceptions of the simulations on their learning and future STEM plans, as well as data from the library to explore patterns of lab use and quiz scores. A detailed look at Contemporary Biology I and Biology II quiz…

There is an underrepresentation of South Asian American K-12 teachers in the United States compared to those employed in the science and technology fields. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore the stories of K-12 South Asian American teachers to understand what impacted their career path and gain an understanding of the…

This study aimed to widen the understanding of the need for Black males in public schools, the critical factors related to their underrepresentation, and the reasons they stay in the teaching profession. The study explored what attracts Black male teachers to the teaching profession, what keeps them in the profession, what strategies can be…

This small-scale exploratory qualitative study examined the career decision-making process of six talented engineering university graduates in Hong Kong. The aim was to investigate major influential factors and barriers that impact their career aspirations and their persistence in remaining in that career. Semi-structured interviews were conducted…

Introduction: The physical therapy (PT) profession has a tradition of growth driven by interest and societal needs. Recent discrepancies in workforce modeling suggest looming issues impacted by declining application rates. Modern facilitators and barriers for entering the PT profession need exploration to assist key stakeholders in making informed…

For the past several decades, young people in the United States have been told that they need to go to college and earn a degree in order to make a good living and be seen as successful. Many of those who decide to attend a 4-year degree program drop out and are left with debt and no credentials. There is a paucity of research on the lived…

Major declaration is a significant task for a college student, and the major selected typically indicates a student's intentions for pursuing a related career. However, few research studies have examined the impact of the timing of a student's major declaration in relation to their hopes for their future career. The purpose of this study was to…

Preparing students for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is one of the United States' K-12 educational concerns (Gandhi et al., 2016). Despite the National Science Foundation's (NSF) report that the number of students participating in STEM fields continues to increase, the number of underrepresented students…

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that students and educators are able to interact in higher education settings, and timely investigations into its impact on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students are of critical importance. In a continued effort to provide student data to chemistry educators, we offer a…

This descriptive/transcendental phenomenological design aimed to understand how working college graduates perceived their college experience, their transition from school to work for workforce integration, and their career alignment to gainful employment. The intended sample was ten working college graduates with bachelor's degrees. However, due…

Encouraging pre-service teachers to perceive early childhood teaching as an inherently attractive career option remains an issue in the early childhood profession in Australia. Following a Research by Design methodology with iterative modifications, this paper uses a professional identity theoretical lens to analyse survey and interview data from…

The authors add to published empirical findings that an appropriate range of validity evidence for achievement tests, including science and mathematics, has either not been gathered, not reported, or is not accessible for independent review. The current study focuses on a sample of published, peer reviewed science intervention studies from a…