Elementary, Middle, and High School Out-of‐School Time Science Experiences and STEM Career Interest

• In Event: 58.082 - Roundtable Session 25
  In Roundtable Session: 58.082-8 - STEM and Maker Spaces in Out-of-School Time

Abstract

The influence of prior STEM career interest and precise timing of OST experiences on college STEM career interest remains unknown. Our study examines: Are elementary students who participate in OST science activities more likely to have a STEM career interest in middle school? Furthermore, after controlling for demographic variables and middle school STEM career interest, what is the influence of high school OST science activities on STEM career interest in college? This study is analyzed with a series of logistic regression analyses of variables from the OPSCI Survey of college undergraduates (n=12,735). Findings show that OST experiences prior to middle school may be important for sparking long-term interest in STEM.

Authors

• Katherine P. Dabney, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Teri Nicole Johnson, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Zahra Hazari, Florida International University

• Remy Dou

• Gerhard Sonnert, Harvard University

• Philip M. Sadler, Harvard University