ERIC Number: EJ1227886
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Dec
Pages: 34
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1609-4913
EISSN: N/A
Factors Influencing Interest in STEM Careers: An Exploratory Factor Analysis
Halim, Lilia; Rahman, Norshariani Abd; Wahab, Noorzaila; Mohtar, Lilia Ellany
Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, v19 n2 Article 1 Dec 2018
Identifying the factors that contribute to interest in STEM will provide guidance for successful interventions as well as contribute to our understanding of how students learn STEM content and how STEM career trajectories are developed. Thus, this study aimed to develop an instrument of STEM career interest. The process of the instrument development involved four stages, namely establishing content validity, conducting a pre-test, conducting exploratory factor analysis, and performing construct reliability. In this study, an 80-item questionnaire was administered to 354 middle secondary school students (14 years of age). Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the 80 items were grouped into four main factors, namely environmental factors, STEM self-efficacy, perception of STEM careers and interest in STEM careers. Four sub-constructs were grouped under environmental factors and these are activities in the classroom, activities outside the classroom, social influences and media influences. STEM self-efficacy consisted of abilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while perception of STEM careers consisted of two sub-constructs i.e., job prospects and skills needed in STEM careers. STEM career fields were divided into two sub-constructs i.e., life sciences and physical sciences. It is expected that this instrument would be helpful in research and evaluation that is aimed at measuring STEM career interest in students.
Descriptors: Student Interests, STEM Education, Career Choice, Science Careers, Middle School Students, Early Adolescents, Self Efficacy, Student Attitudes, Mass Media Effects, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Influences, Foreign Countries, Class Activities, Informal Education
Hong Kong Institute of Education. 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Tel: +011-852-2948-7650; Fax: +011-852-2948-7726; e-mail: apfslt@sci.ied.edu.hk; Web site: http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A