Parent STEM Occupations and STEM Persistence

• In Event: College Transitions and Decisions

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between parental occupations in STEM fields and students’ persistence in pursuing careers in STEM. Students were more likely to persist if they had a father in a STEM occupation. Only a father’s math-intensive STEM occupation had statistically significant positive effects on student math-intensive STEM persistence. STEM GPA was a positive predictor of persistence. Results from this study raise interesting questions about gender and race. Findings from this study suggest that there is a difference between the factors that might impede STEM entrance and the factors that influence STEM persistence. It is clear that parents, especially fathers, play an important role a student’s STEM persistence.

Authors

• Karalyn McGovern, University of Massachusetts - Lowell

• Bernardo Feliciano