ERIC Number: EJ1479546
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Available Date: 2024-08-25
Reporting and Analyzing Demographics in U.S.-American Early STEM Intervention Literature: A Systematic Review
Early Childhood Education Journal, v53 n6 p2287-2301 2025
Given the increased diversity of the population in the United States and the importance of early science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, it is crucial to identify ways to reduce racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in STEM education. This is particularly important for children with disabilities with intersecting identities, who are more likely to experience opportunity gaps in STEM. One way to address the issue of inequitable STEM learning opportunities is to make sure that research on evidence-based strategies is conducted with a wide range of children with diverse needs and characteristics, so that they can be generalized in real-life settings. To date, little is known about the representation of participants in the early STEM intervention literature. This review analyzed demographic reporting practices and participants' demographic characteristics in the early STEM intervention literature. The findings suggest that there is a lack of consistency in the reporting of demographic data, particularly regarding race and ethnicity. This inconsistency presents a potential challenge to the field, as it may hinder progress toward achieving equity and reducing disparities in early STEM education. This review highlights the urgent need to establish a consistent method for collecting and reporting participants' demographic data.
Descriptors: Demography, Early Intervention, STEM Education, Equal Education, Intersectionality, Evidence Based Practice, Data Collection, Race, Ethnicity, Disabilities
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: H327G180006
Department of Education Funded: Yes
Author Affiliations: 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA; 2University of Denver, Denver, USA

Peer reviewed
Direct link
