Intention to Leave a STEM Major: Expectancies, Values, and Identity Status

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: Motivation in Education SIG: Poster Session 2 of 2

Abstract

With the growing need to fill STEM jobs, concern about attrition from STEM majors has increased. Thus, college is a critical period when many potential scientists are lost. Using 364 undergraduates from a Chemistry II Lab course, we employed expectancy-value theory, particularly the concept of cost, and identity formation processes to investigate students’ intentions to leave a STEM major. Regression analyses revealed that achieved ego-identity status was related positively to values and negatively to effort costs for a STEM major. Furthermore, effort costs negatively predicted being fully committed to a STEM major versus thinking about leaving the major. Our results suggest a possible meditator effect of values and costs between achieved identity scores and intentions to leave a STEM major.

Authors

• Tony C. Perez, Duke University

• Jennifer G. Cromley, Temple University

• Avi Kaplan, Temple University