This quantitative dissertation examined the differences between young men and women's perceptions of mathematics and science identity, self-efficacy, and utility. There are gender norms and stereotypes that impact identity, self-efficacy, and perceived utility of mathematics and science. The secondary data analyzed were drawn from the follow-up…

This study examines teachers' and students' self-efficacy in the US and Egyptian context. More specifically, the study examines teachers' and students' self-efficacy in twelve classrooms; six in the US and six in Egypt. The research questions are formulated in order to understand the relationship between students' self-efficacy, their perceptions…

The need for more diversity in STEM-related careers and college majors is urgent. Self-efficacy and student-teacher relationships are factors that have been linked to influencing students' pursuit of subject-specific careers and academic achievement. The impact of self-efficacy and student perceptions of teacher interpersonal behaviors on student…

A teacher's sense of self-efficacy may have significant influence on the pedagogical decisions in the classroom. An elementary school teacher's sense of self-efficacy in teaching science may negatively influence student achievement in science. Negative beliefs concerning science or the ability to teach and promote student learning in science may…

Research in the past ten years has shown that there has been a lack of professionals to fill the jobs available in science. One possible reason for the lack of participation in science fields lies in students' beliefs in their ability to do science, or science self-efficacy, which is linked to interest and achievement. Their perceptions of science…

This study examined the relationships between teacher leadership, science teacher self-efficacy, and fifth-grade science student achievement in diverse schools in a San Antonio, Texas, metropolitan school district. Teachers completed a modified version of the "Leadership Behavior Description Question" (LBDQ) Form XII by Stogdill (1969),…

Since school age ELs are the fastest growing population, it is even more critical that ELs not only graduate high school, but graduate college and career ready. Many EL graduates are not completing their high school education as postsecondary ready. Although the Latino population was the largest group of ELs, representing 77.1 percent of all EL…

Participation in the science workforce is low, and this can be partially attributed to low retention rates of undergraduate students who initially declare a science major. Low retention rates are further exacerbated for under-represented minority (URM) and first-generation (FG) college students pursuing science, and the existence of achievement…

Science and engineering careers have grown at an exponential rate during the past half century and are expected to constitute one-third of all new jobs by 2024 (National Science Board [NSB], 2018). Yet, African Americans are largely underrepresented in science and engineering careers, comprising less than 5% of the science and engineering labor…

My dissertation is a pre-mid-post-test, quantitative research design, including surveys and written assessments, to answer these research questions: 1. How do students' science mindset vary over time when engaged in science inquiry activities? Is there a difference between male and female students? 2. Is there a relationship between 7th grade…

Self-efficacy can determine how hard a student works, if they will persevere in the face of obstacles or succeed academically (Britner & Pajares, 2006). It has been suggested that practices in an inquiry-based science class can provide positive experiences needed to increase self-efficacy of middle school students (Britner & Pajares,…

The under participation of minority females in STEM fields has been a chronic problem in the United States, mainly when it is analyzed through the lens of their relative representation in the population. The results of the first or quantitative phase, of this two phase sequential, mixed method study, revealed academic achievement or performance in…

The purpose of this present action research study was to describe secondary students' feelings of self-efficacy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through a curriculum linked to a science fair project, the teacher-researcher focused on student-participants' perceptions of perseverance and task completion linked to STEM…

Nationally, "at risk" students make up to 30% of U.S. students in public schools. Many "at risk" students have poor attendance, are disengaged from the learning environment and have low academic achievement. Educational failure occurs when students do not complete the required courses and as a result do not receive a high…

This study is motivated by two research questions: (1) How does Culturally Congruent Instruction (CCI) influence American Indian (AI) students' attitudes and achievement in natural resources science at a tribally controlled college/university (TCU)? And (2) What is the nature of the relationship between CCI course modifications and changes (or…