ERIC Number: EJ1373980
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-May
Pages: 36
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4308
EISSN: EISSN-1098-2736
Available Date: N/A
Reasons for Not/Choosing Chemistry: Why Advanced Level Chemistry Students in England Do/Not Pursue Chemistry Undergraduate Degrees
Archer, Louise; Francis, Becky; Moote, Julie; Watson, Emma; Henderson, Morag; Holmegaard, Henriette; MacLeod, Emily
Journal of Research in Science Teaching, v60 n5 p978-1013 May 2023
There are international concerns about decreasing rates of chemistry degree enrolment. This article seeks to understand students' reasons for not/choosing to pursue a chemistry degree, drawing on (i) open-ended survey responses from a sample of 506 students in England aged 21-22 who had studied advanced level ("A level") chemistry at age 18 (as either a full A level or a half "AS" level) and had either chosen (n = 70) or not chosen (n = 436) to pursue undergraduate chemistry and (ii) 185 interviews conducted with a subsample of 18 young people who had been longitudinally tracked from age 10 to 22 (with 17 of their parents) who took advanced level chemistry and then either did (n = 5), or did not (n = 13) go on to study for a chemistry degree. Analysis revealed four key reasons for not/choosing chemistry that were present to varying extents in both the quantitative and qualitative data ("relative interest, connection and options"; "experiences of chemistry A level; feeling 'not/clever enough'"; and "views of chemistry jobs"). Four additional factors were predominantly found in the qualitative data ("associations of chemistry with masculinity"; "encouragement from a significant adult"; "views of higher education"; and "chemistry work experience/outreach"). Applying a sociological lens, we suggest that not/choosing chemistry was a relational process, produced through interactions of habitus, capital, and field. We identify conceptual and methodological implications and extrapolate reasons why chemistry degree enrolments may be declining, offering suggestions for how chemistry education might further support participation.
Descriptors: Chemistry, Majors (Students), Advanced Students, Student Attitudes, Student Interests, Employment Potential, Declining Enrollment, Undergraduate Students, Science Education, Advanced Courses, Secondary Education, Educational Experience, Self Efficacy, Masculinity, Social Capital, Interpersonal Relationship, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A