Academic and Career Choice: Investigating the Roles of Motivation, Institution, Relationships, Transformative Experience, and Gender

• In Event: 61.086 - Roundtable Session 21
  In Roundtable Session: 61.086-4 - Motivations, Interests, and Careers in STEM

Abstract

The current study investigated factors related to academic and career choice in the geosciences, particularly factors important for women. In line with prior research, we found initial interest, identification with the domain, and institutional factors to be important predictors (the latter only for majors). Even controlling for these factors, we found students’ sense of connection to their instructor(s) and their level of transformative experience (i.e., degree they used content to see and experience the world differently) to be significant predictors, particularly for women. We also found gender differences with females expressing lower levels of interest in and identification with the geoscience, self-efficacy, social support, connection to their instructors and transformative experience.

Authors

• Kevin J. Pugh, University of Northern Colorado

• Michael M. Phillips, University of Northern Colorado

• Julie Sexton, University of Northern Colorado

• Cassendra M. Bergstrom, University of Northern Colorado

• Eric M Riggs, Texas A&M University