NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1468832
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0961-205X
EISSN: EISSN-1467-9507
Available Date: 2025-02-21
A Latent Class Analysis Predicting STEM Career Interest and Perceptions of Barriers
Kelly Lynn Mulvey1; Jacqueline Cerda-Smith2; Angelina Joy3; Emine Ozturk4
Social Development, v34 n2 e12792 2025
During adolescence, individuals make key decisions about coursework, and career paths, including paths toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study identified groups of adolescents who vary in STEM career interests, feelings of support, and perceptions of barriers in STEM and explored what factors predict group membership. Using a latent class analysis with a sample of 473 9th and 10th grade students from public schools in the Southeastern United States (M[subscript age] = 15.14, 48.4% White and 43.6% female), 4 distinct classes of adolescents were identified: low STEM, supported with barriers (38.2%), high STEM with barriers (26%), high STEM without barriers (21.6%), and low STEM with high barriers (14.2%). The likelihood of membership in the high STEM without barriers class was higher for participants who reported greater STEM class belonging, growth mindset, and engagement. Efforts to promote continued STEM trajectories may focus on belonging, mindsets, and fostering STEM engagement.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1941992
Author Affiliations: 1North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; 2llinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA; 3Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; 4Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA