| Title |
Gendered Pathways: How Mathematics Ability Beliefs Shape Secondary and Postsecondary Course and Degree Field Choices
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Frontiers in Psychology, April 2017
|
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00386 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Lara Perez-Felkner, Samantha Nix, Kirby Thomas |
| Abstract |
Do mathematics ability beliefs explain gender gaps in the physical science, engineering, mathematics, and computer science fields (PEMC) and other science fields? We leverage U.S. nationally representative longitudinal data to estimate gendered differences in girls' and boys' perceptions of mathematics ability with the most difficult or challenging material. Our analyses examine the potentially interacting effects of gender and these ability beliefs on students' pathways to scientific careers. Specifically, we study how beliefs about ability with challenging mathematics influence girls' and boys' choices to pursue PEMC degrees, evaluating educational milestones over a 6-year period: advanced science course completion in secondary school and postsecondary major retention and selection. Our findings indicate even at the same levels of observed ability, girls' mathematics ability beliefs under challenge are markedly lower than those of boys. These beliefs matter over time, potentially tripling girls' chances of majoring in PEMC sciences, over and above biological science fields, all else being equal. Implications and potential interventions are discussed. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 145 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 36 | 25% |
| Spain | 8 | 6% |
| United Kingdom | 7 | 5% |
| Canada | 6 | 4% |
| Japan | 5 | 3% |
| Switzerland | 3 | 2% |
| Chile | 2 | 1% |
| Sweden | 2 | 1% |
| France | 2 | 1% |
| Other | 10 | 7% |
| Unknown | 64 | 44% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 122 | 84% |
| Scientists | 18 | 12% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 3 | 2% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 1% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 167 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 166 | 99% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 29 | 17% |
| Student > Master | 21 | 13% |
| Student > Bachelor | 14 | 8% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 13 | 8% |
| Researcher | 12 | 7% |
| Other | 34 | 20% |
| Unknown | 44 | 26% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 35 | 21% |
| Psychology | 17 | 10% |
| Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 16 | 10% |
| Engineering | 8 | 5% |
| Mathematics | 6 | 4% |
| Other | 34 | 20% |
| Unknown | 51 | 31% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 379. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 18 April 2023.
All research outputs
#83,579
of 25,726,194 outputs
Outputs from Frontiers in Psychology
#157
of 34,765 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#1,973
of 325,531 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Frontiers in Psychology
#5
of 554 outputs
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So far Altmetric has tracked 34,765 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 13.4. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 554 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its contemporaries.