Out-of-School Time Science Activities and Their Association with Career Interest in STEM
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| Title: | Out-of-School Time Science Activities and Their Association with Career Interest in STEM |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Dabney, Katherine P., Tai, Robert H., Almarode, John T., Miller-Friedmann, Jaimie L. L., Sonnert, Gerhard, Sadler, Philip M., Hazari, Zahra |
| Source: | International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement. 2012 2(1):63-79. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 17 |
| Publication Date: | 2012 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Middle Schools Secondary Education Junior High Schools |
| Descriptors: | After School Programs, Extracurricular Activities, Science Activities, Vocational Interests, Career Choice, Science Interests, STEM Education, College Students, Regression (Statistics), Correlation, Student Participation, Middle School Students, Gender Differences, Clubs, Competition, Language Arts, Science Fiction, Mixed Methods Research, Surveys, Focus Groups |
| DOI: | 10.1080/21548455.2011.629455 |
| ISSN: | 2154-8455 |
| Abstract: | Spurred by concerns about an inadequately sized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, there has been a growing interest in out-of-school time (OST) science activities as a means to foster STEM career interest. This study examines the association between OST science activities and STEM career interest in university through a logistic regression model and the calculation of prototypical odds ratios. The analysis addresses two main research questions: What is the correlation among different forms of OST activities? And, controlling for student demographic and background variables, what specific forms of OST activities are associated with STEM career interest in university? The study uses data from the "Persistence Research in Science and Engineering" survey (n = 6882), which employs a nationally representative sample of university students enrolled in introductory English courses. Results indicate that students' participation in OST activities, as well as their middle school interest in science and mathematics and their gender, plays a significant role in university career interest in STEM. Conclusions suggest that making OST clubs and competitions and the inclusion of non-fiction and science fiction within English Language Arts programmes may be beneficial to the development of students in STEM careers. Limitations include the paucity of research examining which students participate in these activities and what specific features or characteristics benefit them. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 42 |
| Entry Date: | 2017 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1136298 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Spurred by concerns about an inadequately sized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, there has been a growing interest in out-of-school time (OST) science activities as a means to foster STEM career interest. This study examines the association between OST science activities and STEM career interest in university through a logistic regression model and the calculation of prototypical odds ratios. The analysis addresses two main research questions: What is the correlation among different forms of OST activities? And, controlling for student demographic and background variables, what specific forms of OST activities are associated with STEM career interest in university? The study uses data from the "Persistence Research in Science and Engineering" survey (n = 6882), which employs a nationally representative sample of university students enrolled in introductory English courses. Results indicate that students' participation in OST activities, as well as their middle school interest in science and mathematics and their gender, plays a significant role in university career interest in STEM. Conclusions suggest that making OST clubs and competitions and the inclusion of non-fiction and science fiction within English Language Arts programmes may be beneficial to the development of students in STEM careers. Limitations include the paucity of research examining which students participate in these activities and what specific features or characteristics benefit them. |
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| ISSN: | 2154-8455 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/21548455.2011.629455 |
