Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities
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| Title: | Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Yuane Jia (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 2026 36(4):231-241. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | High Schools Secondary Education Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | High School Students, Expectation, STEM Education, College Applicants, Majors (Students), Students with Disabilities, Predictor Variables, Student Characteristics, Student Experience, Self Efficacy, Student Interests |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (NCES) |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10442073251368339 |
| ISSN: | 1044-2073 1538-4802 |
| Abstract: | This study investigated the predictive relationships between (a) U.S. high school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and college application and (b) STEM major choice for students with disabilities (SWD) compared with students without disabilities (SWOD). Social cognitive career theory was utilized to elucidate the predictive factors associated with career development. The sample was extracted from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, which included 1,361 SWD and 5,962 SWOD. The findings indicate that educational expectations consistently predicted college application and STEM major choices for SWD as well as for SWOD. Demographic variables such as race and socioeconomic status were not predictive, except for gender, which was shown to influence both SWD's and SWOD's decisions regarding whether to pursue a STEM major. Several suggestions to facilitate STEM education for SWD are presented. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1496337 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This study investigated the predictive relationships between (a) U.S. high school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and college application and (b) STEM major choice for students with disabilities (SWD) compared with students without disabilities (SWOD). Social cognitive career theory was utilized to elucidate the predictive factors associated with career development. The sample was extracted from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, which included 1,361 SWD and 5,962 SWOD. The findings indicate that educational expectations consistently predicted college application and STEM major choices for SWD as well as for SWOD. Demographic variables such as race and socioeconomic status were not predictive, except for gender, which was shown to influence both SWD's and SWOD's decisions regarding whether to pursue a STEM major. Several suggestions to facilitate STEM education for SWD are presented. |
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| ISSN: | 1044-2073 1538-4802 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10442073251368339 |
