The Role of Gender and Motivation in Undergraduates’ Ideal and Expected STEM Career Aspirations

• In Event: Motivational Factors Involved in College and Career Choices

Abstract

We examined gender differences in the role of science motivation in the discrepancy between college students’ ideal and expected STEM career aspirations. Participants included 1,294 first-year college chemistry students. We assessed students’ science competence beliefs, values, and costs (opportunity and effort), and students reported their ideal and expected career aspirations. Career aspirations were coded for discrepancies between the ideal and expected careers’ level of science. Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed utility value, effort cost, and sex predicted the odds of being in the discrepancy group versus the no discrepancy group. Furthermore, there was a significant sex x competence beliefs interaction. Results suggest supporting science competence beliefs may be especially important for women who wish to pursue STEM careers.

Authors

• Tony Perez, Old Dominion University

• Amanda Nickens, Duke University

• Michael M. Barger, Duke University

• Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, Michigan State University