A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Impact of College-Run Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Days on American Students' STEM Career Aspirations

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  • Author(s): Joseph A. Kitchen (ORCID Joseph A. Kitchen (ORCID 0000-0003-2356-3407); Michael S. Williams (ORCID Michael S. Williams (ORCID 0000-0002-3578-279X); Gerhard Sonnert (ORCID Gerhard Sonnert (ORCID 0000-0003-4138-2044); Philip Sadler (ORCID Philip Sadler (ORCID 0000-0001-7578-4047)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    International Journal of Science Education. 2024 46(2):109-130.
  • Publication Date:
    2024
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      22
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      National Science Foundation (NSF)
    • Contract Number:
      1161052
    • Education Level:
      Higher Education
      Postsecondary Education
      High Schools
      Secondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      STEM Education; Occupational Aspiration; STEM Careers; College School Cooperation; High School Students; College Bound Students; College Students; Student Participation; Career Exploration; Career Choice; Career Guidance; Student Characteristics; Student Interests; Student Attitudes; Program Effectiveness
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/09500693.2023.2220071
    • ISSN:
      0950-0693
      1464-5289
    • Abstract:
      This quasi-experimental study examined the impact of participation in college-run STEM career days on American high school students' STEM career aspirations. Data were collected from a nationwide retrospective cohort survey of 15,847 U.S. college students who provided information about their experiences during high school. Accounting for self-selection effects and a robust set of controls, results showed that students who participated in a college-run STEM career day during high school had 1.3 times the odds of expressing STEM career aspirations compared with a control group. We found that STEM career days were equally effective in promoting American students' STEM career aspirations across background characteristics, levels of academic preparation, and prior STEM interest. Results suggest that policymakers and educators should seriously consider implementing STEM career days for high school students as an evidence-based strategy to effectively increase STEM career interest.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2024
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1408028