Many feel that the number of high school students electing to enter careers in science and engineering is shrinking and that the United States needs to improve the potential pool in order to remain competitive in the international technology and research areas. This report attempts to describe the dimensions of the problem this nation faces in producing enough scientists and engineers, and how images of science may affect whether American students choose careers in science. Literature is surveyed in various areas including: (1) "Images of Science"; (2) "Measuring Attitudes to Science"; (3) "Structural (Non-Attitudinal) Factors in Science Career Choice" (including tracking, family factors, and factors affecting career choice); (4) "Media, Youth and Career Choice"; (5) "School Achievement in Science and Mathematics" (including the math crisis, and peers, academic aptitude and academic achievement); and (6) "Excellence, Academic Achievement, and Mathematics." A bibliography including 47 books and reports, and 118 articles is appended. (CW)