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High School Students' Perspectives on STEM: Importance and Interest. Issue Brief. R2543

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Title: High School Students' Perspectives on STEM: Importance and Interest. Issue Brief. R2543
Language: English
Authors: Joyce Z. Schnieders, Becky L. Bobek, ACT Education Corp.
Source: ACT Education Corp. 2025.
Availability: ACT Education Corp. 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168. Tel: 319-337-1270; Web site: http://www.act.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 28
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: High School Students, Student Attitudes, Value Judgment, Student Interests, STEM Education, STEM Careers, Majors (Students), Postsecondary Education, Knowledge Level, Student Characteristics, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Family Income, Parent Background, Educational Attainment, Place of Residence, Institutional Characteristics, College Bound Students
Abstract: The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce is critical for driving innovation and economic growth in the United States. Driven by rapid technological advancements and evolving industry needs, the STEM workforce has also evolved, consisting of more professionals in emerging fields like artificial intelligence. Students' interest in pursuing STEM majors is not fixed; rather, it can evolve significantly over time, particularly during adolescence--a critical period for identity formation and academic decision-making. A growing body of research has identified multiple factors that influence interest in STEM across individual, family, and school levels. Because today's high school students will make up the future workforce, it is critical to learn about their perspectives on STEM. As such, the current study was designed to address several questions related to students' interests in STEM: (1) Are students familiar with the term STEM?; (2) Do students think STEM is important and useful?; (3) Do students agree that schools should emphasize STEM?; (4) What do students think of the STEM education they have received?; and (5) Are students interested in pursuing a STEM-related major in college? If so, what factors are related to such an interest, and how do different factors work together to predict interest in STEM? The answers to these questions can help us better understand students' perspectives on STEM and their interest in STEM-related majors and provide insights into how to better prepare them for the future workforce.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED677894
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED677894
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PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
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  Data: High School Students' Perspectives on STEM: Importance and Interest. Issue Brief. R2543
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22ACT+Education+Corp%22"><i>ACT Education Corp</i></searchLink>. 2025.
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  Data: ACT Education Corp. 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168. Tel: 319-337-1270; Web site: http://www.act.org
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  Data: 28
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce is critical for driving innovation and economic growth in the United States. Driven by rapid technological advancements and evolving industry needs, the STEM workforce has also evolved, consisting of more professionals in emerging fields like artificial intelligence. Students' interest in pursuing STEM majors is not fixed; rather, it can evolve significantly over time, particularly during adolescence--a critical period for identity formation and academic decision-making. A growing body of research has identified multiple factors that influence interest in STEM across individual, family, and school levels. Because today's high school students will make up the future workforce, it is critical to learn about their perspectives on STEM. As such, the current study was designed to address several questions related to students' interests in STEM: (1) Are students familiar with the term STEM?; (2) Do students think STEM is important and useful?; (3) Do students agree that schools should emphasize STEM?; (4) What do students think of the STEM education they have received?; and (5) Are students interested in pursuing a STEM-related major in college? If so, what factors are related to such an interest, and how do different factors work together to predict interest in STEM? The answers to these questions can help us better understand students' perspectives on STEM and their interest in STEM-related majors and provide insights into how to better prepare them for the future workforce.
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  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: ED677894
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED677894
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 28
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Value Judgment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Interests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Careers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Majors (Students)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Knowledge Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Racial Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Ethnicity
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      – SubjectFull: Family Income
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      – SubjectFull: Institutional Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: College Bound Students
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: High School Students' Perspectives on STEM: Importance and Interest. Issue Brief. R2543
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