STEM stereotypes predict students’ STEM career interest via self-efficacy and outcome expectations

International Journal of STEM Education

Zhi Hong Wan¹  Winnie Wing Mui So²  Tian Luo²  Wai Chin Li² 

[1] Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China;Department of Science and Environmental Studies and Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China;

关键词: STEM career interest;    Stereotypes;    Self-efficacy;    Outcome expectations;    SEM;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40594-021-00295-y

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNurturing students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers is a major goal of STEM education. Although the relationship between students’ stereotypical beliefs regarding STEM careers and their career interest can be reasonably hypothesized, research investigating the extent to which and how students’ STEM career interest is directly or indirectly influenced by their stereotypical beliefs is lacking. This study investigated how upper primary students’ stereotypical beliefs regarding STEM careers predicted their STEM self-efficacy and STEM career-related outcome expectations and how these constructs predicted their STEM career interest. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse quantitative survey data of 824 fourth- to sixth-grade students and test the hypothesized models.ResultsStudents’ stereotypical beliefs regarding STEM careers negatively predicted their self-efficacy in STEM activities and career-related outcome expectations. Additionally, the students’ self-efficacy in STEM activities and career-related outcome expectations in turn predicted their STEM career interest.ConclusionsThese results explain the potential indirect effect of STEM stereotypes on students’ career interest through self-efficacy and outcome expectations. The findings highlight the significant role of STEM stereotypes, self-efficacy in STEM activities, and career-related outcome expectations in students’ career development. The implications of this study for STEM education are also discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY