Measuring Scientific Interest in Preschool

• In Event: AERA Graduate Student Research-in-Progress Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Gender Equity, Student Interest, Attitudes, and Academic Performance in Science Education (Table 6)

Abstract

Despite studies on school-aged children showing that scientific interest has a strong correlation with science achievement, little is known about early interest development in science. A possible factor contributing to this lack of understanding may be due to limited availability of psychometrically robust instruments evaluating the scientific interests of young children. The current study aims to overcome this limitation by evaluating the reliability and validity of four different measures with aims to developing a multifaceted measure of preschoolers' scientific interests. Developing such measures supports the design and evaluation of interventions that optimize engagement and success in science, which are particularly important for mediating persistent inequities in STEM educational opportunities and outcomes.

Author

• Jihye Erica Bae, Vanderbilt University