The Role of Media in Influencing Students' STEM Career Interest

• In Event: Constructing Representations: The Role of Media in Shaping Perceptions Across Contexts

Abstract

The increasing amount of STEM media in the lives of children and youth nowadays presents an opportunity to leverage their power for STEM education, not only to teach STEM subjects, but also to inspire students to pursue STEM related careers, filling the current need of a high-technology economy. Using a nationally representative sample of over 15,000 college students from the United States in 2017, this study investigates the nature of the relationships between students' STEM-related media exposure during high school and their STEM career interests at the beginning of college. We found a positive effect of STEM video viewing and gaming that was completely mediated via STEM identity and personal value system.

Authors

• Chen Chen, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

• Stephanie Hardjo, Harvard University

• Gerhard Sonnert, Harvard University

• Philip M. Sadler, Harvard University