Career Choice among First-Generation, Minority STEM College Students
Bryan M Dewsbury1, Cynthia Taylor1, Amy Reid2
1Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881.
Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
|November 27, 2019
Summary
Familial ties and cultural expectations significantly influence undergraduate students' perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective career guidance in higher education.
Area of Science:
- STEM Education
- Sociology of Science
Background:
- Undergraduate students' career choices are influenced by various factors.
- Diverse scientist exposure can shape perceptions of STEM fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively investigate how undergraduates perceive STEM careers after exposure to diverse scientists.
- To explore the impact of culturally-specific realities on STEM career choices using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT).
Main Methods:
- Qualitative investigation of undergraduate perceptions.
- Application of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) framework.
- Analysis of seminar series impact on career choice narratives.
Main Results:
- Familial ties were identified as a key determinant in career navigation.
- Cultural expectations significantly impacted students' STEM career considerations.
- Students' perceptions of STEM careers were mediated by their socio-cultural contexts.
Conclusions:
- Culturally-specific realities, particularly family and societal expectations, play a critical role in undergraduate STEM career choices.
- Higher education institutions should consider socio-cultural factors in career counseling for STEM students.
- Tailored guidance is needed to support diverse students in pursuing STEM careers.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Stem Cell Culture
6.0K
Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
6.0K
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
196
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
196
01:26Stem Cell Niche
6.1K
The stem cell niche is the dynamic microenvironment where stem cells reside. Inside these niches, the cells may remain undifferentiated, undergo high self-renewal, or become lineage-specific progenitors. Stem cells coexist with other niche cells, such as stromal cells. They also interact closely with the ECM. Cell-cell and cell-matrix communication occur via adhesion molecules or soluble factors that signal the stem cells and determine their fate. Stromal cells also provide survival signals to...
6.1K
01:06Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell
4.1K
A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
4.1K
01:22Case Studies
13.2K
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
13.2K
01:21Lineage Commitment
4.0K
Commitment is the process whereby stem cells:
4.0K