Successful in Science Education and Still Popular: A pattern that is possible in China rather than in Germany or Russia |
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| Authors: | Marion Händel Xiaoju Duan Margaret Sutherland Albert Ziegler |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology and Sport Science, Chair of Educational Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Regensburger Stra?e 160, Nuremberg 90441, Germanymarion.haendel@fau.de;3. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China;4. School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK;5. Department of Psychology and Sport Science, Chair of Educational Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Regensburger Stra?e 160, Nuremberg 90441, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Across several countries, science is often regarded as unpopular and a male-dominated domain. Furthermore, the number of students who are interested in science education or intend to work in the field of science is relatively low. This might be due to expectations adolescents hold towards science and successful scientists. The current cross-national study investigates the expectations of students in relation to highly achieving peers in science education in the three countries China, Germany and Russia (N?=?420). Students were asked to indicate their expectations about two fictitious new classmates with respect to three categories: intelligence, social competence and eagerness. Besides national differences, differences concerning the gender of the participating students, the gender of the target students (fictitious highly achieving students in science education) and interaction effects were investigated. Whereas the effects of gender and target gender are inconsistent and negligible, there are significant national differences. Notably, Chinese students hold the most positive expectations about successful peers in science education. The results are discussed with regard to possible explanations and educational consequences. |
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| Keywords: | Attitudes Gender-related Science Technology Society |
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