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Gender Differences in Science Interest, Self-concept and Career Aspirations

Direito, I; Connolly, J; Simon, S; Trevethan, J; (2017) Gender Differences in Science Interest, Self-concept and Career Aspirations. In: Proceedings of the ESERA 2017 Conference. European Science Education Research Association (ESERA): Dublin, Ireland. Green open access

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Abstract

Gender issues in science education have been widely reported in the literature and linked to the underrepresentation of women in science careers, particularly in physics. Drawing on survey data from the European Commission funded project “MultiCO – Promoting youth scientific career awareness and its attractiveness through multi-stakeholder cooperation”, we analyse the English baseline findings of science interest, self-concept regarding science and career aspirations, prior to introducing scenario-based interventions aimed at raising interest in science and future science-related aspirations. The scenarios illustrate careers that use science skills. By examining the responses of 210 English students, it was found that girls are more interested in biology and less interested in physics than boys; and that their self-concept regarding science subjects is significantly lower. The findings also suggest that self-concept is an influencing factor for girls’ interest in science, but not for boys. Regarding career aspirations, helping other people is more important for girls, and making money, inventing new things, and becoming a leader is more important for boys. This paper also presents the preliminary findings of a questionnaire that collected the responses of 31 students after a scenario-based intervention in physics presenting a female scientist, suggesting that girls were more likely to consider pursuing the career covered in the scenario.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: Gender Differences in Science Interest, Self-concept and Career Aspirations
Event: ESERA 2017 Conference
Location: Dublin City University, Ireland
Dates: 21 August 2017 - 25 August 2017
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Publisher version: https://keynote.conference-services.net/programme....
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: self-concept in science, career-based interventions, career aspirations
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Engineering Science Faculty Office
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10053455
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