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Exploring predictors of STEM aspirations from a STEM capital perspective
Luo, Tian1; Chen, Yu2; So, Winnie Wing Mui3; Chiu, Stephen Wing Kai4
2024-02
Source PublicationResearch in Science and Technological Education
ISSN0263-5143
Abstract

Background: The concept of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) capital can serve as a framework for understanding how various resources contribute to aspiration formation in STEM fields. However, to date, it remains unclear what factors should be included in STEM capital and how they may help explain why students do or do not aspire to STEM careers. Purpose: This study aimed to validate the instruments and explore the predictive effect of various factors, including STEM capital and other non-STEM specific cultural capital factors, on students’ STEM aspirations while comparing these variables among primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary levels. Sample: A stratified sample of students (N = 3,991) from the upper-primary to senior-secondary level in Hong Kong participated in the study. Design and methods: An online survey investigation was conducted for data collection. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to validate the instruments before ANOVA, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed. Results: The elementary students had significantly greater scores on the STEM capital variables than did the students at the junior and senior secondary levels. Gender, age, parental school involvement and expectations, informal STEM participation, positive views of professionals, and self-concept in mathematics positively predicted STEM aspirations, while having a parent/guardian with a STEM career negatively predicted students’ aspirations. In addition, the results showed that having STEM books at home and self-concept in information technology were additional predictors at some educational levels. The explored factors can explain approximately 30% of the variance in students’ STEM aspirations. Conclusion: Senior students’ STEM capital factors exhibit lower levels compared to their younger peers. The developed, adapted, and translated instruments are valid for measuring the factors composing STEM capital, where some cultural and STEM capital factors significantly explain variations in students’ STEM aspirations. The mechanism of the negative effect of parental STEM occupations and the implications of the current study are also discussed.

KeywordCareer Aspirations Parental Occupation Stem Capital Stem Education Survey Investigation
DOI10.1080/02635143.2024.2320113
URLView the original
Indexed BySSCI
Language英語English
WOS Research AreaEducation & Educational Research
WOS SubjectEducation & Educational Research
WOS IDWOS:001167135100001
PublisherROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND
Scopus ID2-s2.0-85186473293
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Citation statistics
Document TypeJournal article
CollectionFaculty of Education
Corresponding AuthorSo, Winnie Wing Mui
Affiliation1.College of Teacher Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
2.Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao
3.Department of Science and Environmental Studies and Centre for Education in Environmental Sustainability, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
4.Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Luo, Tian,Chen, Yu,So, Winnie Wing Mui,et al. Exploring predictors of STEM aspirations from a STEM capital perspective[J]. Research in Science and Technological Education, 2024.
APA Luo, Tian., Chen, Yu., So, Winnie Wing Mui., & Chiu, Stephen Wing Kai (2024). Exploring predictors of STEM aspirations from a STEM capital perspective. Research in Science and Technological Education.
MLA Luo, Tian,et al."Exploring predictors of STEM aspirations from a STEM capital perspective".Research in Science and Technological Education (2024).
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