Diversity Climate and Diversity Value: How They Lead to Belonging, Motivation, and Persistence in STEM

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 1:15 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Equity-Focused Constructs and Contexts in Motivation Research (Table 14)

Abstract

It is important to better understand the roles of diversity climate and diversity value in student outcomes to inform a culturally responsive approach to STEM persistence. Accordingly, we examined (a) the relations among diversity (diversity climate, diversity value), motivation (outcome expectation, interest, and identity), and persistence intention and (b) the mediating role of university sense of belonging. Participants were a sample (N = 622) of undergraduate students in introductory engineering courses. SEM revealed the positive influences of diversity climate and diversity value on motivation and persistence intention in engineering. Also, we found the importance of university sense of belonging as an underlying mechanism. Findings suggest that practical efforts on diversity can support sense of belonging, motivation, and persistence in STEM.

Authors

• Hyewon Lee, University of California - Irvine

• Blaine Pedersen, NWEA

• Su Jiang, Texas A&M University

• Syahrul Amin, Texas A&M University

• Karen E. Rambo-Hernandez, Texas A&M University