Sandi Simpkins, Ph.D.

Do Families Matter for Adolescents’ Pursuit of

STEM?

An Introduction

3

Diversity:ImmigrationSocial classRace/ethnicityCulture

Positive Youth Development Perspective

5

Choices in OST & STEM during middle childhood and adolescence matter

STEMScience, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics

National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. 2015. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2015. Special Report NSF 15-311. Arlington, VA. Available at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/.

Science & Engineering Occupations: 2013

Hispanic female (2%)

Hispanic male (4%)

Native Am. Female (<1%)

Native Am. Male (<1%)

Asian female (5%)

Asian male (12%)

Black female (2%)

Black male (3%)

White female (20%)

White male (52%)

The STEM Pipeline and Science Enrollment

8

Sources: Pew Center for Research; National Science Board (NSF), National Center for Educational Statistics

1985 1991 1995 2001 2005 20120%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

% of Latinos

% in Population

The STEM Pipeline and Science Enrollment

9

Sources: Pew Center for Research; National Science Board (NSF), National Center for Educational Statistics

1985 1991 1995 2001 2005 20120%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

% of Latinos

% Phys. Sci. BS % in Population

The STEM Pipeline and Science Enrollment

10

Sources: Pew Center for Research; National Science Board (NSF), National Center for Educational Statistics

1985 1991 1995 2001 2005 20120%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

% of Latinos

% Phys. Sci. PhD % Phys. Sci. BS % in Population

WHY DO SOME WOMEN AND LATINOS SUCCEED WHEREAS OTHERS DON’T?

“I can but I don’t want to”

Self-Concept of Abilit

y

Value

STEMAchievement & choices

Family

Self-Concept of Ability

Value

STEMAchievem

ent & choices

Eccles’ Expectancy-Value Model:

A Brief Glimpse at Two STEM Studies

14

Parents and Math in Elementary School

15

Eccles’ Expectancy-Value Model

16

Adolescents’ Choices

Parents’ Beliefs

Parents’ Behaviors

Children’s Beliefs

Eccles et al., 1993

Results: Fathers in Math

17

Adolescents’ HS Math Courses

Parents’ Beliefs

(1st, 2nd, 4th)

Parents’ Behaviors(2nd, 3rd, 5th)

Children’s Beliefs

(3rd, 4th, & 6th)(7th, 8th, & 10th)

Fathers: +Mothers: ns

Fathers: +Mothers: ns

+

Does Parents’ Science Behavior Matter for High School Latino and White Students?

18

Group Differences

• Social class explained a lot• Latina girls had lower self-

concepts in all science domains

BUT…..• The correlates were similar

Parent Behaviors and Motivation

Families are important• What parents do is related to their high school students’ motivation

• It matters for• Girls and boys• Caucasians and Latinos

Sandi Simpkins, Ph.D.

Do Families Matter for Adolescents’ Pursuit of

STEM?