Motivation, Instructor-Student Relationship, and Transformative Experience as Predictors of Academic and Career Choice in Geoscience

• In Event: Academic and Career Pathways in STEM

Abstract

The current study sought to identify factors related to academic and career choice in the geosciences, particularly factors important for women. We found that students’ perceived connection to their instructors and level of transformative experience (i.e., degree to which they used content in everyday experience to see and experience the world differently) were significant predictors even when controlling for initial self-efficacy, interest, and identity in the domain. Further, we found these results were particularly strong for females and connection to the instructor was only an important factor for females. We also found gender differences with females expressing less of a connection to their instructors and a lower level of transformative experience.

Authors

• Kevin J. Pugh, University of Northern Colorado

• Michael M. Phillips, University of Northern Colorado

• Cassendra M. Bergstrom, University of Northern Colorado

• Julie Sexton, University of Northern Colorado

• Eric M Riggs, Texas A&M University