ERIC Number: EJ1219333
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jul
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0098-6283
EISSN: N/A
Undergraduates' Considerations in Declaring Either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Hong, Phan Y.; Lishner, David A.; Ebert, Alexandria; Zimmerman, Caileigh; Oechsner, Markus; McCann, Lee I.
Teaching of Psychology, v46 n3 p179-186 Jul 2019
Undergraduate psychology majors (n = 277) completed a survey assessing their rationale for pursuing either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Only 52.9% correctly identified the differences in degree requirements. Of those, BA students indicated greater science anxiety and avoidance than those pursuing a BS. BS students reported greater foreign language anxiety and avoidance than those pursuing a BA. Differences in math anxiety and avoidance were not found. Consideration of math and science degree requirements was more influential on degree choice for those pursuing a BA than for those pursuing a BS, but neither group differed in how influential advisors, family, faculty, family, or career path were in influencing degree choice. Results suggest students' degree choice may be based on their aversion to areas of study emphasized by the alternative degree: pursuing a BA to avoid science and pursuing a BS to avoid foreign language.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Bachelors Degrees, Psychology, Student Educational Objectives, Degree Requirements, Second Language Learning, Language Attitudes, Mathematics Anxiety, Influences, Course Selection (Students), Student Behavior, Knowledge Level, STEM Education, Difficulty Level
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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