ERIC Number: EJ1251775
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2157-9288
EISSN: N/A
Outcome Expectations and Environmental Factors Associated with Engineering College-Going: A Case Study
Matusovich, Holly; Gillen, Andrew; Carrico, Cheryl; Knight, David; Grohs, Jake
Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research, v10 n1 Article 5 2020
Family, school, and community contexts each link to secondary school enrollment, yet these factors have been comparatively examined only in limited ways. A holistic examination of contextual factors will be particularly important for engineering where college enrollment patterns vary by demographics. To begin explaining patterns of engineering college-going at different high schools across the Commonwealth of Virginia, we answered the following research questions: "Within a single school system and from a socializer's perspective, what outcome expectations and environmental factors influence students' engineering-related postsecondary educational plans?" "How are these factors the same and different between high schools within a school district?" Using a single-case-study approach and in-depth interviews with socializers (teachers, administrators, and counselors), we examined similarities and differences in outcome expectations and environmental factors at three high schools within a single school district. By integrating the results regarding outcome expectations and environmental factors, three important findings emerged: (1) relationships between outcome expectations and environmental factors vary across schools within the same system, (2) proximity to a postsecondary institution is not just about physical distance, and (3) messaging regarding career pathways matters. Each of these has practical implications but can also set the foundation for future research.
Descriptors: Case Studies, Engineering Education, Context Effect, Enrollment Trends, College Attendance, High School Students, Socialization, Majors (Students), Student Attitudes, School Districts, Teacher Attitudes, Counselor Attitudes, Administrator Attitudes, Academic Aspiration, Career Development, Social Influences, Counties, Rural Areas, Counselor Role, Family Characteristics, Community Colleges, Student Financial Aid, Parent Education, Parent Aspiration
Purdue University Press. Stewart Center Room 370, 504 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Tel: 800-247-6553; Fax: 419-281-6883; e-mail: pupress@purdue,edu; Web site: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jpeer/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools; Secondary Education; Two Year Colleges; Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: EEC1647928