Science Self-concept Research Articles

School students’ aspirations for STEM careers: the influence of self-concept, parental expectations, career outcome expectations, and perceptions of STEM professionals

ABSTRACT This study examined the processes that contributed to students’ aspirations for STEM careers and unpacked the relationships between students’ self-concept in science and mathematics learning, perceived parental expectations, perceptions of STEM professionals, career outcome expectations and STEM career aspirations. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse quantitative survey data of 2,477 primary and secondary school students studying in seven Asian regions (Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mainland China, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore). The results demonstrated that students’ self-concept, perceptions of STEM professionals, and their career outcome expectations all significantly and positively predicted their aspirations for STEM careers. However, this study failed to establish a direct relationship or positive correlation between perceived parental expectations and STEM career aspirations. Students’ self-concept negatively predicted their career outcome expectations related to seeking parental approval. While no significant positive effects of perceived parental expectations on career aspirations were found, an indirect effect of perceived parental expectations on STEM career aspirations via career outcome expectations was observed. Moreover, career outcome expectations mediated the relationships between students’ STEM career aspirations and their perceptions of STEM professionals more strongly than self-concept. The implications of these results for STEM education are discussed.

Investigating trees as an interdisciplinary phenomenon in climate regulation: an intervention study on iSTEM education and scientific literacy in secondary schools

ABSTRACT Climate change and CO2-emissions are key-issues of the 21st century. As a complex interdisciplinary phenomenon, educational systems appear to be forced to expand their curricula beyond disciplines or school subjects. Thus, cross-disciplinary concepts in science, such as iSTEM (integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) address this demand. Also, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stresses the need for interdisciplinarity in compulsory education. The present intervention study ‘CO2BS - Coole Bäume und Sensoren [Cool(ing) Trees and Sensors]’ focuses on the tree as a key-factor in the understanding of gas-exchange for which a proper scientific understanding demands thinking across disciplines. In accordance with a OECD competence framework, Scientific Literacy, the intervention aimed to foster secondary school students’ interdisciplinary conceptual knowledge (ICK) of how a tree’s exchange of O2 and CO2 can be investigated scientifically. Students’ changes in self-concept in science as well as their interest in climate and science along with epistemic emotions associated with scientific procedures were also investigated. The results showed positive changes in students’ self-concept and epistemic emotions. Though ICK increased significantly too, the results indicate that future interventions will need to focus more on how to establish interdisciplinarity within secondary education more effectively.

Investigating Variables Predicting Environmental Awareness in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development: An Analysis Based on TIMSS 2019 Data

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides unique and detailed information to explore the competencies and attitudes of fourth and eighth-grade students worldwide. The "Environmental Awareness Scale" was developed for the first time in the TIMSS 2019 cycle to measure students' environmental awareness. This cognitive scale gives essential information on students' scientific understanding of some environmental problems at the national and international levels. Using this scale to assess students' environmental awareness will improve education for sustainable development (ESD) in this setting since the obtained data provide reliable information that education policymakers use to integrate the most important environmental education topics and concepts into their curricula and identify the factors that should be considered to raise students' environmental awareness. This study aims to investigate to what extent the science self-concept variable from science-related factors, as well as the gender and socioeconomic status (SES) variables from demographic characteristics, predict the environmental awareness of eighth-grade students in Türkiye participating in the TIMSS 2019. For this purpose, a theoretical model was developed and analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to investigate the association between students' environmental awareness and science self-concept, gender, and SES. The analysis revealed that science self-concept, SES, and gender variables together explained 36% of students' environmental awareness. Furthermore, while science self-concept appears to be the strongest predictor of students' environmental awareness, SES level was also a significant variable explaining students' environmental awareness. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in environmental awareness between male and female students. The study's findings are discussed based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s emphasis on the periodic monitoring and evaluation of progress in implementing ESD based on data.

Filling a gap: initial evidence for reliable and valid measures of students’ self-concept, self-efficacy, and interest in science with elementary students traditionally underrepresented in STEM

American students continue to perform poorly on national and international assessments of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competencies, and achievement gaps spanning racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines emerge early and widen over time. Scholars and practitioners agree that expanding access to high-quality STEM education has the potential to improve students’ performance and reduce inequalities. Research has elucidated the critical role that students’ self-perceptions play in driving academic achievement, which has spurred the development of many educational programs and initiatives aimed at increasing students’ confidence, self-efficacy, and interest. However, our capacity to determine what programs and initiatives are effective and for whom is limited by our lack of psychometrically sound measures that assess science-related self-perceptions and interests of elementary students from diverse populations. To address this gap, we developed and tested measures of Science Self-Efficacy, Science Self-Concept, Interest in Science Activities, and Attitudes toward STEM careers in a sample of third-grade students (8–9 years) traditionally underrepresented in STEM careers (94% of our sample identified as either African American or Hispanic). We present initial evidence, from a preliminary pilot study, for the reliability and validity of these measures and reveal the multi-dimensional nature of students’ self-perceptions and interests in science. We discuss how such measurement tools will inform our understanding of the nature of young students’ science self-perceptions, how the utilization of such tools can inform educational practice, and highlight the critical importance of conducting measurement development research with diverse populations.

A META-ANALYTIC EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF INDIVIDUAL AND SCHOOL-AVERAGE ACHIEVEMENT ON STUDENTS' SELF-CONCEPT IN SCIENCE

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of individual and school average achievement on students’ self-concept in science. The data of the last four Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) cycles were used, and a two-stage individual data meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between achievement and self-concept in science. In the first stage, multilevel structural equation modeling was performed for each dataset. Furthermore, the effect sizes were synthesized via meta-analysis with a three-level random-effect model. In addition, moderation analysis was conducted for the year, grade, and degree of stratification in countries. The results suggested a positive and significant effect of individual science achievement on the self-concept of students in science. On the other hand, the relation of the average school achievement was negative. The results were discussed by considering the big-fish-little-pond effect. Keywords: big fish little pond effect, TIMSS, self-concept, science education

Motivation and Opportunities-to-Learn in Science as Predictors of Student Science Performance

In this study, we investigated the relationships between three pivotal factors that influence student performance, including opportunity-to-learn (OTL) factors, which included proximal indicators that represent science-specific learning opportunities, student motivation (propensity factor), and crucial student and teacher antecedent factors by using Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study dataset. Results showed that student propensity factors, particularly self-concept in science, and family socioeconomic status were the two strongest and positive, significant predictors of student science performance. However, the link between OTL and science performance was mixed. Additionally, OTL had less predictive power than propensity factors on science performance, but the relationship between OTL and propensity factors were strong. Implications for the examination on the opportunity-propensity model and science education are discussed.

MODERATING ROLE OF SCIENCE SELF-CONCEPT IN ELICITING STATE CURIOSITY WHEN CONFRONTING A VIOLATION OUTCOME

A higher science self-concept may be required to stimulate state curiosity in incongruent situations, but there is limited research on the connection between science self-concept and state curiosity. The purpose of this study is to examine whether science self-concept moderates the process of arousing students’ state curiosity when they encounter results that violate their expectations in science learning. To achieve this aim, 410 fifth- and sixth-grade primary school students (194 female) were asked to solve science questions, and students who faced results that deviated from their expectations were classified as the violation outcome group (experimental group), while those who faced results consistent with their expectations were classified as the expected outcome group (comparison group). Then, the moderating effect of science self-concept on the relationship between science curiosity and state curiosity arousal in these two groups was verified using PROCESS macro. Results showed that science curiosity significantly predicted state curiosity in both groups. Notably, science self-concept had a significant moderating effect on the process of arousing state curiosity in the violation outcome group, where higher science self-concept led to a greater increase in state curiosity after confirming the correct answer. However, in the expected outcome group, the moderating effect of science self-concept was not significant. The implications of these findings for science education and potential directions for future research are discussed. Keywords: science self-concept, science curiosity, state curiosity, moderating effect, PROCESS macro

Gender Differences in Math and Science Academic Self-Concepts and the Association With Female Climate in 8th Grade Classrooms

Although women’s representation in STEM fields and occupations has increased, science and math continue to be stereotyped as male domains. This paper links psychological and sociological explanations for gendered disparities in STEM by examining the relationship between the local “micro-situational” female learning environment and the gender gap in academic self-concept in math and science. We applied hybrid models to TIMSS 2015 data comprised of a pseudo-panel of repeated measures for individual student and peer achievement, academic self-concept, utility value, and interest-enjoyment value in math/science (at age 14). We analyzed data from three countries, including a subsample of students who were taught by the same teacher in both math and science, thus eliminating unobserved teacher heterogeneity. Results indicate that female peer climate in the classroom is important for understanding how girls’ self-concept in math/science is formed, even though it was unrelated to the gender gap.

Examining the relationship between science motivational beliefs and science achievement in Emirati early adolescents through the lens of self-determination theory

BackgroundA solid foundation in science is critical to students’ success in the 21st century workforce, especially in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Therefore, high-quality science education is critical to prepare students for the challenges of the future. However, Emirati students have consistently performed poorly on international standardized science assessments, suggesting that the underlying factors contributing to this trend need to be understood. Therefore, the present study examined the relationship between motivational beliefs in science (i.e., science self-concept and intrinsic and instrumental motivation to learn science) and science achievement in Emirati early adolescents using a self-determination theory framework.MethodsA total of 7,915 Emirati eighth-grade students (Meanage = 13.61 years, SD = 0.53) participated in the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The TIMSS 2019 assessment measured students’ motivational beliefs in science and their achievement in science. Path analysis and bootstrapping were used to examine the relationship between these variables and to test the mediating role of intrinsic and instrumental motivation to learn science in the relationship between science self-concept and science achievement.ResultsThe results of the study indicate that science self-concept is positively related to both intrinsic and instrumental motivation to learn science and science achievement. Intrinsic motivation to learn science was significantly related to science achievement, whereas instrumental motivation was not. Moreover, intrinsic motivation to learn science alone significantly mediated the relationship between science self-concept and science achievement.ConclusionsThe study offers insights into the specific motivational beliefs associated with science achievement and highlights the importance of fostering positive science self-concept and intrinsic motivation in Emirati early adolescents. The study also suggests that interventions to promote positive science self-concept and intrinsic motivation to learn science may be particularly effective in improving science achievement in this population. These findings have important implications for educators and policymakers seeking to promote academic success and career opportunities for Emirati students in science.

The Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect for Reading Self-Beliefs: A Cross-National Exploration with PISA 2018

ABSTRACT Purpose Past research shows the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect (BFLPE; negative effect of school-average achievement on student-level academic self-concept) to generalize across countries. However, such evidence is largely limited to math and science. Given that reading self-concept is highly differentiated from math and science self-concepts and plays an important role in predicting educational outcomes, it is essential to examine the universality of the BFLPE and its underlying social-comparison process within this domain. Method We assess the cross-national generalizability of the BFLPE for 15-year-olds’ reading self-concept using Programme for International Students Assessment 2018 (533,165 students, 72 countries). To demonstrate that the BFLPE operates with a relative—rather than absolute—frame of reference for comparison, we juxtapose difficulty experienced with reading in general (self-concept perceived difficulty; relative frame of reference), with difficulty experienced with reading specifically during the PISA test (PISA test difficulty; absolute frame of reference). Results Our findings show that the BFLPE for both the reading self-concept perceived competence and difficulty subscales was robust across countries. Further, the BFLPE was strong for self-concept subscales, but very weak for the PISA test difficulty scale. Conclusions Our findings extend support for the generalizability of the BFLPE to reading self-concept and highlight the role of social comparison processes underlying this effect.

Extracurricular Program for Girls to Improve Competencies and Self-Concept in Science and Technology

The gender gap in STEM areas is still a reality that constitutes a global concern. Many initiatives have sought to strengthen the scientific-technological aspirations of girls, among them extracurricular programs such as the one we present here. Its design is based on the available scientific evidence to promote female interest and self-concept in those areas. In this study, we analyze the impact of the extracurricular activities on the development of competencies and perceptive self-evaluation skills among eight girls aged between 8 and 11 years old regarding science and technology. The results showed the effectiveness of the extracurricular activities both for the development of skills and for the improvement of levels of self-concept, interest, and participation, which leads us to highlight the need to promote initiatives of this sort in order to overcome gender stereotypes and to achieve equality.

Visual Discrete Format: An Alternative to Likert-Type Formats of Survey Items Sensitive Enough to Measure Small Changes in Stable Constructs Such as Self-Concept in Science

A visual discrete format was developed for use in surveys as an alternative to a Likert-type format to measure changes in a relatively stable construct before and after an intervention. Visitors to a science centre ranging in age from 8 years old upwards were asked to complete surveys that included a seven-item questionnaire scale on self-concept in science using either the Likert-type format (n=446) or the visual discrete format (n=375), before and after their visit. A new set of statements to assess self-concept in science were developed and validated so they could be conducted on either format. Matched responses were used to calculate internal consistency, standard deviation, confidence interval and percentage of missing values; these were all similar for both formats. In the visual discrete format, text labels were replaced by visual labels with a single image of different size for each response option. While a Likert-type format describes a level of agreement/disagreement with a specific item, the visual discrete format relates more to choosing the best reflection of the self in relation to that item. The Likert-type format included a set of emoji in its descriptions to appeal to younger participants. The visual discrete questionnaire scale detected a small increase with medium effect size in self-concept in science after the visit to the science centre while the Likert-type questionnaire scale did not detect any change. This suggests the proposed new format can not only be a viable and useful alternative, but potentially more sensitive under certain conditions.

Investigation of Students’ Attitudes Towards Science According to Grade Level and Gender in Middle Schools with Different Science Achievement Levels

The purpose of this study is to examine students’ attitudes towards science with respect to grade level and gender in middle schools with different science achievement levels. For that purpose, two middle schools having low achievement level and one middle school having high achievement level were selected according to the information given by officials working in National Education Directorate of Kastamonu province about middle schools’ achievement levels in Kastamonu. Study sample consisted of 282 students at different grade levels attending to two low achieving schools and 302 students attending to the high achieving school. Attitudes towards Science Scale was used as the data collection instrument. Results of factor analyses showed four factors under this instrument: learning science in school, science outside school, self concept in science, and importance of science. Study results showed that grade level had a significant effect on only science outside school subscale of Attitudes towards Science Scale both in low and high achieving schools. Furthermore, for all grade levels no significant effect of gender on any subscales of Attitudes towards Science Scale was observed in low achieving schools. On the other hand, it was found that gender had a significant effect on different subscales of Attitudes towards Science Scale in 5th, 6th and 7th grades in high achieving schools. Recommendations were given about what cautions can be taken for the development of attitudes towards science among students in both school types and how to close gender-based attitude gap which was found in favor of girls only in the high achieving school.

An important component to investigating STEM persistence: the development and validation of the science identity (SciID) scale

BackgroundScience, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) influence almost every aspect of our daily lives. However, despite the high demand for STEM occupational talent, the STEM pipeline continues leaking, with less than one-sixth of high school students pursuing STEM majors and only 50% of entering STEM college majors matriculating into STEM fields. Science identity has been identified as the most powerful predictor of high school students pursuing an undergraduate STEM major as reported by Chang (Machine learning approach to predicting STEM college major choice, American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, 2020). Though the construct is gaining lots of attention, it remains largely ill-defined, not operationalized at the high school level, and not based upon traditional identity theory. The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument that measures high school students’ science identity, the Science Identity (SciID) Scale.ResultsSubject experts and a small group of high school students provided content validation for the proposed scale. Exploratory factor analysis revealed an optimal two-factor solution, reflecting the traditional two-dimensions of identity theory: Exploration and Commitment. Cronbach’s alpha revealed good internal consistency for both factors. Finally, structural equation modeling confirmed the convergent validity of the instrument with the external variables of science achievement and science career interest. Furthermore, the divergent validity between science identity and science self-concept was also confirmed.ConclusionsInitial results indicate that the SciID Scale is a valid and reliable instrument that accurately measures a high school student’s standing on this construct. The soundness of this instrument will enable policy makers and practitioners to design more effective intervention programs aimed at cultivating high school students’ science identity.

Intensive, Short-Term Presenting With a Science Outreach Program Enhances Positive Science Attitudes and Interest in Lifelong Learning About Science

This study investigated impacts of intensive, short-term participation as a science outreach presenter on attitudes towards science and interest in lifelong learning about science. Participants included high school and university students who volunteered to assist as presenters over 1 week when Science Caravan—an extensive science outreach program in Thailand, run by the National Science Museum—visited their locality. This study employed mixed methods over two phases. Phase One involved three questionnaires. Two questionnaires were administered to current presenters (N = 690), pre-presenting (before training) and immediately post-presenting at 12 locations of the Science Caravan tour in 2017–2018. A third questionnaire collected data from previous, alumni presenters (n = 726). Phase Two involved interviews with current presenters (n = 19) and alumni presenters (n = 19). While presenters already had positive attitudes towards science, the brief but intensive experience of being a Science Caravan presenter enhanced science attitudes in four scales—with more positive attitudes about Self-concept in science, Value of science to society, and Future participation in science, and decreased Anxiety about science presenting. Participation had a greater impact of reducing anxiety in female presenters compared to male presenters. The experience of presenting with Science Caravan led to the development of more positive attitudes towards science and increased interest in lifelong learning activities regarding science, including presenters’ interest in science-related education. The increased interest in lifelong learning activities was correlated with positive attitudes about and self-efficacy in science. This study provides evidence that a short-term, intensive experience of science outreach can lead to increases in positive attitudes towards science and lifelong learning.

RELATIONS OF SECONDARY STUDENTS’ INTRINSIC MOTIVATION AND ASPIRATIONS WITH THEIR SELF-CONCEPT IN SCIENCE

Science is a critical area as it focuses on meeting basic human needs by laying the necessary foundation in everybody in diverse fields. Thus, science impacts everybody in the world and science education demonstrate utmost important. If students have intrinsic motivation, they are well engaged, enquiring, attentive and willing to participate in learning process and the intrinsically motivated behaviors help them acquire knowledge and experience regarding science. Educational aspirations, career aspirations and self-concept promote for better science education. Thus, the present study aimed to address the relations of secondary students’ intrinsic motivation and aspiration with their self-concept in science. This is a mixed methods study and sample comprised 2384 students in Grade 8 and Grade 9. In this study, an intervention was implemented to explore students’ intrinsic motivation, aspirations and self-concept using appropriate teaching methodologies and strategies; results reveal that, there were strong positive relationships of students’ intrinsic motivation and aspirations with their self-concept (r2= .934;.926 respectively) in the experimental group. However, there were very low positive relationships of students’ intrinsic motivation and aspirations with their self-concept (r2 = .093; .058 respectively) in the control group. Further, there were significant differences of students’ intrinsic motivation, aspirations and self-concept before and after the intervention in the experimental group; t=51.926(1232) p=.000; t= 48.513(1232) p=.000; t= 53.689(1232) p=.000 respectively. There was no such significant difference of the above, before and after the intervention in the control group; t=-.5(1150) p=.323; t=-.989(1150) p=.116; t= 1.572 (1150), p=.617 respectively. The findings of the study provided greater understanding of the above relations, develop suitable teaching and learning methodologies and inform the practice of science education.

Comparisons of Science Motivational Beliefs of Adolescents in Taiwan, Australia, and the United States: Assessing the Measurement Invariance Across Countries and Genders.

This study utilized international, large-scale assessment data to compare science motivational beliefs of adolescents within and between countries and genders. The study focused on the beliefs about science of eighth graders, including their self-concept in science, the intrinsic value they ascribed to science, and their beliefs about the utility of the subject. The study data were derived from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in 2019 (TIMSS) that was conducted in Taiwan, Australia, and the United States. To ensure the validity of mean cross-group comparisons, the measurement invariance (MI) of the constructs was first assessed. The multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis and latent factor mean comparisons were applied to the data. The results indicated that the MI of science motivational beliefs across the three countries attained only metric invariance, rendering a latent mean comparison implausible. However, the cross-gender MI within each country attained scalar invariance, supporting the comparison of means across genders. The science motivational beliefs of females were significantly lower than those of males, with the exception of beliefs of US students about their utility value. The findings of this study raise concerns about the validity of current international comparisons of science motivational beliefs of the students while supporting the use of TIMSS data to identify gender differences in science motivation within each country. The implications of MI across countries and genders are discussed, and the importance of establishing MI is highlighted. The findings affirm that gender disparities in science motivational beliefs can be compared using constructs with sound psychometric properties.

Science Self-Concept, Relatedness, and Teaching Quality: a Multilevel Approach to Examining Factors that Predict Science Achievement

This study investigated student and classroom level variables related to student science achievement by using the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 dataset. Multilevel modeling was applied in this secondary analysis to examine how science self-concept, school relatedness, and science teaching quality predicted student science achievement at both the student and classroom levels. Data from a total of 14,291 grade 8 students in the USA were included in the study. Results showed that after accounting for gender and SES (control variables), self-concept was a statistically significant, positive predictor of science achievement at the student level. At the classroom level, classroom-mean self-concept and sense of relatedness were both statistically significant, positive predictors of science achievement. Students’ perceived teaching quality was not a statistically significant predictor at either the student or classroom level. Implications of these results for science teaching and learning are discussed.

Individuals' math and science motivation and their subsequent STEM choices and achievement in high school and college: A longitudinal study of gender and college generation status differences.

Math and science motivational beliefs are essential in understanding students' science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) achievement and choices in high school and college. Drawing on the Eccles' expectancy-value theory and Arnett's emerging adulthood framework, this study examined the relations among high school students' motivational beliefs in ninth grade and their STEM course taking and grade point average (GPA) throughout high school as well as their STEM major choice in college. In addition, we examined subgroup differences across (a) gender and (b) college generation status by testing mean-level differences as well as whether these relations between math and science motivational beliefs and STEM outcomes varied by gender and college generation status. Using nationally representative data from the High School Longitudinal Study (N = 14,040; Mage = 14; 51% female students), this study found that adolescents' math and science motivational beliefs at the beginning of high school were positively associated with STEM achievement and course taking throughout high school and college major choices 7 years later. The results showed that female and first-generation college students had lower math and science self-concept of ability and were less likely to pursue a STEM major in college. However, in most cases, the relations among indicators did not vary by gender and college generation status. This study provided insights for policymakers and practitioners that gender and college generation gaps in STEM are evident at least by the beginning of high school and carry forward to their STEM college choices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

School Students’ Self-confidence in Science and Intrinsic Motivation for Learning Science: Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy Approach

The study deals with the Lithuanian school students’ self-confidence in science and motivation for learning science on the basis of TIMSS 2015 data. The study analyses two components of self-confidence: science self-concept (SSC) and science self-efficacy (SSE). The research revealed that self-confidence in science of school students statistically significant correlate with the motivation for learning science.