ERIC Number: EJ1079419
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Oct
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0731-9258
EISSN: N/A
Gender Differences in High School Student Dispositions toward Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Careers
Christensen, Rhonda; Knezek, Gerald; Tyler-Wood, Tandra
Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, v34 n4 p395-408 Oct 2015
STEM disposition surveys were completed by 364 11th and 12th grade students attending a two-year university-based residential science and mathematics academy during fall 2012. Surveys were completed by the same classes as a post test administration during spring 2013. Major findings were that first year students tended to show a decline in their dispositions pre to post while second year students showed an increase in their STEM dispositions pre to post. First year students exhibited gender differences in STEM dispositions that were typical of published male preferences, in that males had more positive dispositions than females toward engineering and technology. However, second year students nearing completion of their academy experience showed no significant differences on any of the STEM measures. Females tended to be higher than their male counterparts on interest in obtaining a STEM career.
Descriptors: STEM Education, High School Students, Grade 11, Grade 12, Student Surveys, Pretests Posttests, Student Attitudes, Gender Differences, Career Choice, Age Differences, Questionnaires, Likert Scales, Vocational Interests
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. P.O. Box 1545, Chesapeake, VA 23327. Tel: 757-366-5606; Fax: 703-997-8760; e-mail: info@aace.org; Web site: http://www.aace.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 11; Grade 12
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 0833706; 1312168