Home and Motivational Factors Related to Science-Career Pursuit: Gender differences and gender similarities |
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| Authors: | Jongho Shin Alexander McCarthy-Donovan Hyeyoung Hwang Sonyoung Yim EunJin Seo |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea;2. School of Education, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;3. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA;4. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of the study was to examine whether gender differences exist in the mean levels of and relations between adolescents’ home environments (parents’ view of science, socio-economic status (SES)), motivations (intrinsic and instrumental motivations, self-beliefs), and pursuit of science careers. For the purpose, the Programmed for International Student Assessment 2006 data of Korean 15-year-old students were analysed. The results of the study showed that girls had lower levels of science intrinsic and instrumental motivations, self-beliefs, and science-career pursuit (SCP) as well as their parents’ values in science less than boys. Gender similarities, rather than gender differences, existed in patterns of causal relationship among home environments, motivations, and SCP. The results showed positive effects for parents’ higher value in science and SES on motivations, SCP, and for intrinsic and instrumental motivations on SCP for girls and boys. These results provide implications for educational interventions to decrease gender differences in science motivations and SCP, and to decrease adolescents’ gender stereotypes. |
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| Keywords: | Science-career pursuit Motivation Psychosocial learning environment Gender |
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