Self-Efficacy in STEM Graduate Education: Reestablishing Outcome and Efficacy Expectations for African American Students in the Pursuit of Advanced STEM Degrees

• In Event: Roundtable Session 21
  In Roundtable Session: Enhancing the Learning of African American Students in STEM Subjects

Abstract

The literature regarding STEM fields expresses the importance of recognizing the connection between self-concept or confidence and ability in STEM education and occupation. The computing sciences are a STEM discipline that is highly underrepresented as it relates to African American participation, especially at graduate degree attainment levels (i.e. masters, Ph.D.). In an effort to qualitatively illuminate factors that contribute to advance computing science degree attainment amongst African Americans, this study reveals that in different stages of the computing trajectory, self-efficacy needs to be reestablished. In doing so, this research captures a novel space in the self-efficacy literature, presenting self-efficacy in the STEM field of computing as a mobile construct to be reestablished at each level of the educational trajectory.

Authors

• LaVar Jovan Charleston, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Raul Leon, Eastern Michigan University

• Jerlando F.L. Jackson, University of Wisconsin - Madison