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Q: Source for statistic on choosing a career in science ( No Answer,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: Source for statistic on choosing a career in science
Category: Reference, Education and News > Education
Asked by: scienceafterschool-ga
List Price: $50.00
Posted: 11 Aug 2006 06:38 PDT
Expires: 10 Sep 2006 06:38 PDT
Question ID: 754999
I have recently encountered some statistics that are very useful to my
work.  However, I have not been able to find the source.  Supposedly,
a survey indicated several significant indicators for an person from
an underrepresented group to choose a science career. The top two
indicators were: the awareness of a role model from a similar/same
demographic (82%), and a positive out-of-school time science
experience (76%).  (I have also seen a similar statistic attributed to
Nobel Prize winners and inspiration by out-of-school time
experiences.)

The cited source was the National Center for Education Statistics,
2005 Condition of Education.  However, I have not been able to find it
in there.

I need help finding the source (with page numbers please).  Thanks!

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 14 Aug 2006 19:08 PDT
Hello scienceafterschool-ga,

Is this the reference you found quoting the NCES as the source of the
statistics? If not, what was your source? I have reviewed a huge
collection of NCES reports and I don?t think they?re the source of
these statistics. Do you have any other leads? I?ve sent out some
e-mails to try to find the source for you. In the meantime, what
sources have you tried without success. I don?t want to duplicate your
efforts. Thanks.

~ czh ~


http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0607&L=isen-astc-l&D=1&T=0&O=D&F=P&P=10852
Regarding this discussion of depicting scientists and the one about
women and minorities in science, this was a primary topic when the
Coalition for Science After School presented to after school providers
at the 21st Century CLC institute last week. Several presenters
(Maryann Stimmer of EEC in particular: www.edequity.org) noted the
need for role models who "look like" the kids. In fact, NCES reports
that people from underrepresented groups who choose careers in science
report the following as the top two reasons for their choice:
Awareness of a role model from a similar/same demographic (82%); a
positive out-of-school time science experience (76%).

Clarification of Question by scienceafterschool-ga on 15 Aug 2006 09:38 PDT
Thanks for your efforts, czh-ga.  I see you tracked down an email that
I sent before I realized that I didn't have this source confirmed.  I
have looked primarily at the NCES Condition of Education, because that
was the source I was given.  It is possible that this comes from the
data that supports the Condition report, probably one of the
longitudinal surveys, but I don't know much about accessing that data.

Does that help?

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 15 Aug 2006 09:41 PDT
Hello,

I just wanted to let you know I emailed the NCES a few days ago about
this, and they just responded that they are not aware of any of their
studies or surveys as the source of this particular statistic.

Hope that helps a bit,

pafalafa-ga

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 15 Aug 2006 10:18 PDT
Hello scienceafterschool,

Please take a look at the following articles.

NCES
Page 24

?Some have suggested that high school science and mathematics teachers
can serve as important role models for young women choosing careers in
the sciences (Mason & Kahle, 1989).?
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2000/200010.pdf

Mason, C. L., & Kahle, J. B. (1989). 
Student attitudes toward science and science-related careers: A
program designed to promote stimulating gender-free learning
environments.
Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 26, 25?39.
http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ387867&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&objectId=0900000b800669ef


Do Faculty Serve as Role Models?
The Impact of Instructor Gender on Female Students
http://www.aeaweb.org/annual_mtg_papers/2005/0109_1015_0601.pdf

Does this help?

Thanks,
Bobbie7

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 15 Aug 2006 13:35 PDT
Hello again scienceafterschool-ga,

Are you interested strictly in finding the source for the statistics
you cite in your original question? I have run through dozens (if not
hundreds) of reports and articles on what influences children?s career
choices in general and choosing science careers in particular. Are you
interested in current/recent reports that don?t have your specific
statistics? Thanks.

~ czh ~
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Source for statistic on choosing a career in science
From: sonoritygenius-ga on 11 Aug 2006 13:45 PDT
 
This might be helpful 
http://nces.ed.gov/Pressrelease/timssrelease.asp

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