STEM Experiences and Computer Science Career Interest

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Summer Learning, STEM, and Expanding the School Day: Strategies for Supporting Academic Achievement in Out-of-School Time

Abstract

Addressing a decrease in computer science undergraduate degrees, our study examines a variety of informal STEM experiences to see which may associate with undergraduate computer science career interest, when compared to other STEM fields. Thirteen logistic regression models were created with the OPSCI Survey dataset variables through a subset of entering undergraduates interested in STEM (N= 2,997). Results suggest that rather than focusing on STEM career interests and STEM activities in general, it appears advisable to focus on the smaller grain size of individual disciplines. Findings further show that certain STEM experiences in grades 5 through 12, such as writing computer programs and playing computer/video games, influence student likelihood to have a career interest in computer science once in college.

Authors

• Katherine P. Dabney, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Gerhard Sonnert, Harvard University

• Christine Lee Bae, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Philip M. Sadler, Harvard University