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STEM learning opportunities and career aspirations: the interactive effect of students’ self-concept and perceptions of STEM professionals
Chen, Yu1; So, Winnie Wing Mui2,3; Zhu, Jinxin4; Chiu, Stephen Wing Kai5
2024-01
Source PublicationInternational Journal of STEM Education
ISSN2196-7822
Volume11Issue:1Pages:1
Abstract

Background: Students’ positive perceptions of scientists or engineers have been reported to be positively related to their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career aspirations. However, other research indicates that positive perceptions of experts in these fields might not necessarily lead to students’ pursuit of STEM careers. Self-concept, defined as one’s perceived abilities in specific academic domains, likely plays a moderating role in the relationship between perceptions and career aspirations according to the motivational theory of role modelling. Moreover, students’ perceptions of STEM professionals might be sourced from STEM-related media and school experiences. Therefore, through running a moderated mediation model, this study examined whether and how the influences of media consumption and school STEM learning opportunities on career aspirations would be mediated by perceptions of STEM professionals, and whether the mediation effect would be conditional on students’ self-concept. Methods: Data were collected through an online survey of 608 primary and secondary school students from Hong Kong, and were analysed using structural equation modelling. Results: Results revealed that the students’ positive perceptions of STEM professionals were positively associated with their career aspirations, and mediated the links from media consumption and school opportunities to career aspirations. In addition, this mediated pathway depended on STEM self-concept, such that perceptions of STEM professionals were only linked with STEM career aspirations for adolescents with average or high levels of self-concept. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest the need to pay attention to the STEM perceptions and self-concept interaction while designing and implementing learning activities to connect a diversity of students with STEM careers. It is not only important to foster students’ self-concept, but also to enrich their knowledge of diverse occupations, so as to help diversify their perceptions that being professionals in these fields is desirable and attainable, and to eventually inspire more student engagement and participation in STEM.

KeywordMedia Consumption Positive Perceptions Of Stem prOfessionals School Stem Opportunities Self-concept Stem Career Aspirations
DOI10.1186/s40594-024-00466-7
URLView the original
Indexed BySCIE ; SSCI
Language英語English
WOS Research AreaEducation & Educational Research
WOS SubjectEducation & Educational Research ; Education, Scientific Disciplines
WOS IDWOS:001143331400001
PublisherSPRINGERONE NEW YORK PLAZA, SUITE 4600 , NEW YORK, NY 10004, UNITED STATES
Scopus ID2-s2.0-85182665501
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Citation statistics
Document TypeJournal article
CollectionFaculty of Education
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
Corresponding AuthorSo, Winnie Wing Mui
Affiliation1.Faculty of Education, University of Macau, SAR, Macao
2.Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
3.Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
4.Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
5.Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
First Author AffilicationFaculty of Education
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Chen, Yu,So, Winnie Wing Mui,Zhu, Jinxin,et al. STEM learning opportunities and career aspirations: the interactive effect of students’ self-concept and perceptions of STEM professionals[J]. International Journal of STEM Education, 2024, 11(1), 1.
APA Chen, Yu., So, Winnie Wing Mui., Zhu, Jinxin., & Chiu, Stephen Wing Kai (2024). STEM learning opportunities and career aspirations: the interactive effect of students’ self-concept and perceptions of STEM professionals. International Journal of STEM Education, 11(1), 1.
MLA Chen, Yu,et al."STEM learning opportunities and career aspirations: the interactive effect of students’ self-concept and perceptions of STEM professionals".International Journal of STEM Education 11.1(2024):1.
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