To Compete or Collaborate: Effects of Gendered Values on STEM Doctoral Students' Sense of Belonging

• In Event: Mental Health and Graduate Students

Abstract

This study explores the moderating and mediating effects of gender and individualism-collectivism value orientations on doctoral students’ outcomes in the biological sciences. We found that, among doctoral students, men had higher levels of vertical individualism and lower levels of horizontal collectivism than women, indicating that men regard themselves as more independent in such a manner that prizes competition, and simultaneously regard themselves as less interdependent in a manner that prizes cooperation. Further, after examining the relationship between individualism and collectivism with students’ sense of belonging in their scientific labs, findings show that horizontal collectivism values significantly relate to students’ sense of belonging. However, gender did not moderate this relationship.

Authors

• Feng Zhang, Utah State University

• Annie M. Wofford, Northern Arizona University

• Kaylee Litson, Utah State University

• Jennifer M. Blaney, Northern Arizona University

• David F. Feldon, Utah State University