Investigates students' persistence regarding career aspirations in science and engineering (SE) professional careers as a function of race and sex. In a sample of 8th graders, men were more likely to persist in SE career aspirations. Academic proficiency and math self-efficacy were 2 of the strongest predictors of persistence in SE careers.…

Discusses the use of competitions to motivate scientifically gifted students to further develop their abilities. Before scheduling a competition, teachers are urged to consider the type of project, ability to work at home or at school, curriculum fit, and individual pace and style. Seven science competitions are profiled. (CR)

The case of Germany is taken as an example of cyclical variation in higher education enrolment in the sciences. This article looks at the causes of this "oscillation," focusing on the cycle of the 1990s and argues that the mechanism underpinning these fluctuations is the cobweb model. This model establishes a recursive loop between…

Research offers generalizations that can be used as guidelines for the classroom teacher in the areas of students' attitudes and interests, factors that affect understanding, and effective teaching strategies. (JMF)

Because of the changes occurring in the chemical sciences, a new survey of chemistry and its intellectual and economic impact was clearly needed. This report presents a current assessment of the status of chemistry and of the future opportunities in the field. This analysis contains: (1) an introductory chapter (establishing the need for the…

This article offers a review of the major literature about attitudes to science and its implications over the past 20 years. It argues that the continuing decline in numbers choosing to study science at the point of choice requires a research focus on students' attitudes to science if the nature of the problem is to be understood and remediated.…

This review presents a broad picture of science education research during 1977 and discusses how this research relates to the past and how it can be of use to teachers. The review is organized in four sections. The Overview is a presentation and discussion of research dealing with the philosophy of science education, its goals, objectives and…

Assesses the creative writing of 23 black seventh graders enrolled in a weekend science enrichment program to determine their thematic choice, self-expression, career interest, racial/gender identity, and evidence of parental influence and expectations. Analysis revealed few examples of racial or gender issues, but many expressed keen interest in…

This paper contends that the climate or culture of academic science has been chilly to women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. The paper reviews research findings in three areas: (1) numbers of women participating in science education and careers; (2) evidence of precollege patterns for girls and women in science and math; and (3)…

Females are underrepresented in courses in mathematics, science, and computer and other high technology applications. Research in the last decade has identified a variety of factors that contribute to females' lack of participation in math, science, and technology. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: stereotypic images…

The findings and conclusions of a study of curriculum and instruction in two-year college social science, science, and science-related technology programs are summarized in three sections. The first selects from 1977-1978 curriculum data which were gathered from catalogs and class schedules of a representative national sample of 175 two-year…