Development of Motivation Among African American Undergraduate Students in STEM: A Mixed-Methods Research Synthesis

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session One
  In Roundtable Session: Developing Smartness: Considering Motivation and Learning in STEM (Table 7)

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed-methods research synthesis is to analyze the extant research on the motivation of undergraduate African American STEM students. We used the science of broadening participation and motivation science to answer the following: how has the motivation of African American undergraduate STEM students been studied over the past 20 years?; and, what factors and variables contribute to the development of their achievement motivation? After completing our library database searches, preliminary findings show that persistence was measured in 49% of the sources and five themes emerged surrounding the development of achievement motivation. We expect this synthesis will inform broadening participation science and higher education practice about the nature, complexity, and function of African American undergraduate STEM students’ motivation.

Authors

• Kimberley Edelin Freeman, Howard University
  Presenting Author

• Najma Knobloch, Howard University
  Presenting Author

• Rashunda L. Stitt Richardson, Winston-Salem State University
  Non-Presenting Author