Out‐of‐School Time Science Activities and Their Association With Female Career Interest in STEM

• In Event: Roundtable Session 35
  In Roundtable Session: Impacts of Out-of-School Time on Math, Science, and Literacy

Abstract

Researchers and national science organizations have supported the use of OST science activities in order to encourage a career choice of females in STEM fields. Our research questions are as follows: Are female students with an interest in certain OST science activities before college more likely to have a STEM career interest in college? Furthermore, what is the influence of prior middle school science and mathematic interest on the association between OST science activities and STEM career interest in college? A comparative analysis of female participants from the OPSCI Project (n=7,953) was completed through a logistic regression. Findings show that middle school mathematics and science interest as well as certain OST activities associate with female STEM career choice in college.

Authors

• Katherine P. Dabney, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Philip M. Sadler, Harvard University

• Gerhard Sonnert, Harvard University