Identity Stability and Stereotype Threat: Changes to Math and Science Identity in the College Transition

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding STEM Students and Outcomes

Abstract

This study focuses on mathematics and science identities and though most research focuses on the impact of math and science identity on college outcomes, we instead explore the impact college has on math and science identities. We find Black women have the highest percentage of students who go down from initially reporting a high math identity. Chinese and Vietnamese men are the only male subgroups who went down more than up, and have worse math identities than White or Chicano men, despite Model Minority Stereotypes. There is also the greatest gender disparity in results between Asian men and women than any other racial subgroup. Implications for data disaggregation and intersectional approaches to math and science identities are discussed.

Authors

• Monique Helene Harrison, Stanford University

• Michael Brown, Iowa State University