Changes in STEM Motivation During High School for Domestically and Internationally Adopted Adolescents

• In Event: 66.059 - Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: 66.059-5 - Poster Session 1: Motivational Processes

Abstract

We used data from two waves of the High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS) to examine academic motivation in STEM disciplines in adolescents who had been adopted by non-biological parents. Using expectancy-value theory as a framework, we found that domestically adopted adolescents (compared to internationally adopted adolescents and non-adoptees) experienced decrements in their valuing of mathematics during high school. Data from parents indicated that parents of adoptees (both domestic and international) have less confidence in adolescents’ academic abilities than do parents of non-adoptees.

Authors

• Eric M. Anderman, The Ohio State University

• Alison C. Koenka, University of Oklahoma

• Sungjun Won, The Ohio State University