Search

What motivates individuals to embark on graduate careers in physics and chemistry and how could these motivations impact future productivity? This study examines gender differences in such motivations and their ability to predict select future success outcomes (publications and grant funding) for physical scientists. The data were obtained as part of Project Crossover, a national study of physicists and chemists. Overall, motivations for males and females were similar. Regression results indicate that individuals who chose a graduate career in the physical sciences primarily because they enjoyed thinking about science or were encouraged by significant others were more productive in terms of primary/first-author publications and generation of grant funding than those who were motivated by factors such as academic performance or desire to impact society., It is of critical importance to U.S. scientific productivity and economic prospects to effectively recruit those students who have the potential to impact future scientific research and to provide these [...]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between self-efficacy and maintenance of interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) resulting in completion of an undergraduate degree in a science related area. To pursue this analysis, the researchers surveyed 3,510 graduates from selective specialized science high schools within the United States as well as 603 same age participants in Talent Search programs who did not graduate from a specialized science high school. Using binary logistic regression analysis, the researchers identified individual-level variables associated with the decision by both groups of high-ability adolescents to earn an undergraduate degree in STEM. These variables include self-efficacy and stability of interest in science, mathematics, and/or technology, and suggest that both specialized science high schools and Talent Search programs both serve equally well as incubators of talent for adolescents with a proclivity for STEM related disciplines.

This pilot study investigated the use of juxtaposed think aloud and eye-gaze tracking to understand a possible different understanding of think aloud process of participants. Four participants completed eight multiple-choice science questions while thinking aloud and having their eye-gazes tracked. Analysis of the data revealed that participants had behaviors such as fore telling of an eye movement, pauses in the think-aloud, different duration of the think-aloud, and the interaction between the think-aloud and associated eye movements. These findings suggest that juxtaposed think aloud and eye-gaze tracking may be a useful approach to furthering our understanding of students’ problem solving behaviors.