ERIC Number: EJ1171551
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1931-7913
EISSN: N/A
A Longitudinal Study of How Quality Mentorship and Research Experience Integrate Underrepresented Minorities into STEM Careers
Estrada, Mica; Hernandez, Paul R.; Schultz, P. Wesley
CBE - Life Sciences Education, v17 n1 Article 9 Mar 2018
African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are historically underrepresented minorities (URMs) among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree earners. Viewed from a perspective of social influence, this pattern suggests that URMs do not integrate into the STEM academic community at the same rate as non-URM students. Estrada and colleagues recently showed that Kelman's tripartite integration model of social influence (TIMSI) predicted URM persistence into science fields. In this paper, we longitudinally examine the integration of URMs into the STEM community by using growth-curve analyses to measure the development of TIMIS's key variables (science efficacy, identity, and values) from junior year through the postbaccalaureate year. Results showed that quality mentorship and research experience occurring in the junior and senior years were positively related to student science efficacy, identity, and values at that same time period. Longitudinal modeling of TIMSI further shows that, while efficacy is important, and perhaps a necessary predictor of moving toward a STEM career, past experiences of efficacy may not be sufficient for maintaining longer-term persistence. In contrast, science identity and values do continue to be predictive of STEM career pathway persistence up to 4 years after graduation.
Descriptors: Longitudinal Studies, Mentors, STEM Education, Disproportionate Representation, Hispanic American Students, African American Students, American Indian Students, Social Influences, Prediction, Academic Persistence, Minority Group Students, Self Concept, Values, Self Efficacy, Educational Quality, Undergraduate Students, Interpersonal Relationship, Predictor Variables, Science Careers, Career Choice, Correlation, Program Descriptions, Structural Equation Models, Student Surveys, Student Attitudes, Measures (Individuals)
American Society for Cell Biology. 8120 Woodmont Avenue Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20814-2762. Tel: 301-347-9300; Fax: 301-347-9310; e-mail: ascbinfo@ascb.org; Website: http://www.ascb.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01GM075316