Gender does not make the difference: interest in STEM by gender is fully mediated by technical socialization and
Sebastian Goreth1, Christian Vollmer1
1Department of Research and Development in Teacher Education, University College of Teacher Education, Tyrol, Austria.
International Journal of Technology and Design Education
|August 16, 2022
Summary
Student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is influenced by technical socialization and degree programs, not gender. Addressing these factors can help reduce the STEM workforce shortage.
Area of Science:
- Education
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Germany faces a skilled worker shortage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
- Declining student interest in technology and a projected decrease in technology educators exacerbate this issue.
- Understanding factors influencing STEM interest is crucial for addressing workforce needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of degree program, technical socialization, personality, and gender on students' STEM interest.
- To examine gender-specific differences in STEM interest among teacher training students.
- To identify mediating factors in the relationship between gender and STEM interest.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, with 350 teacher training students.
- Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data.
- Mediating roles of personality, technical socialization, and degree program were assessed.
Main Results:
- Student interest in STEM is fully mediated by technical socialization and degree program, irrespective of gender.
- Gender differences in STEM interest are explained by these mediating factors.
- Personality did not emerge as a significant mediator in this context.
Conclusions:
- Interventions should focus on enhancing technical socialization and guiding degree program choices to boost STEM interest.
- Integrating technology lessons into the school curriculum and reducing gender stereotypes are recommended solutions.
- These strategies aim to mitigate the STEM workforce shortage and gender gap in technology fields.
Keywords:
Choice of vocationGender and technologyGeneral technology educationInterest in STEMTeacher trainingMore Related Videos
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