Effects of Participation in a STEM Camp on STEM Attitudes and Anticipated Career Choices of Middle School Girls: A Mixed Methods Study
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Middle school is a critical time for the development of girls' attitudes toward science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).Existing research has indicated declining positive attitudes toward these fields among girls throughout adolescence.This study investigated how, to what extent, and for whom participation in a summer STEM Camp at a Midwestern college in the United States affected the STEM attitudes and career aspirations of 23 female participants, ages 10-14 years.Using a concurrent triangulation design, the researcher collected pre-and postquestionnaire data (N = 20), interviewed participants (N = 9), read journal entries (N = 22), and wrote field notes.The researcher adapted the Fennema-Sherman Attitude Scales (FSAS) to measure five of the original nine attitude scales concerning STEM: Male Domain, Confidence, Usefulness, Success, and Motivation.In addition to these standardized, Likert-type scale questions, the questionnaire included demographic items to gauge participants' anticipated career choices and the level of STEM motivation (e.g., extracurricular activities and guardians' STEM involvement).The interview questions elicited information about the participants' Camp experiences and the Camp's influence on participants' attitudes and career aspirations.The journal prompts provoked their daughter, Jordis, was.No matter how stressful the times, my niece, Jordis, always knew how to put a smile on my face; thank you for that.Many thanks to my brother, Christian, and my sister-in-law, Lauren, who gave me a place to come home to during my years of commuting.They have taken a huge burden off of my shoulders by taking me in and letting me stay with them on a weekly basis.My love of my life
Author: Elisabeth Kager
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2473457387