Predictors of STEM Career Interest Among Attitudes and Dispositions of Middle School Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Engaging and Supporting Student Learning in Middle School

Abstract

With nationwide interests in building our future STEM workforce, we were interested in exploring middle school students’ dispositions towards STEM subjects and how it can impact their attitudes towards STEM careers. The current study, a part of a NSF funded research, aimed to examine the effects of middle school students’ dispositions towards science, technology, engineering and math on their attitudes towards a career in the STEM field. The participants in this study were 419 middle school students enrolled in schools in five states. The results of regression analyses revealed a moderate effect of STEM dispositions on middle school students’ STEM career interests. Other interesting findings regarding gender differences and influences of computer usage and attitudes are also discussed.

Authors

• Sita Periathiruvadi, University of North Texas

• Gerald A. Knezek, University of North Texas

• Tandra Lea Tyler-Wood, University of North Texas

• Leila Mills, University of North Texas

• Rhonda R. Christensen, University of North Texas