ERIC Number: EJ1467896
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-5627
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1758
Available Date: 2024-10-11
Factors Influencing Science Career Intention: The Power of Counterspace
Innovative Higher Education, v50 n2 p641-663 2025
The current study examined how participation in an undergraduate research experience (URE) that provides a counterspace affects sociocognitive factors (science self-efficacy, science identity, and academic self-concept) and how they, in turn, may shape science career intention in a sample of STEM undergraduate students. STEM majors from a public university in California completed surveys from 2017 to 2020 and rated their science identity, science self-efficacy, academic self-concept, and their intention to pursue a science-related research career. Structural equation modeling shows that URE participants reported higher (a) science self-efficacy, (b) science identity, and (c) academic self-concept relative to students who did not participate in the URE. While there was an indirect effect of science self-efficacy on science career intention mediated by science identity, higher science self-efficacy and academic self-concept were negatively associated with the intention to pursue a science career. MANOVA results suggest that URE participants fared better than non-URE students in all outcomes across all sub-groups. These results highlight the importance of an identity-focused UREs and the counterspace it fosters among STEM majors from diverse backgrounds.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Student Research, Self Efficacy, Sciences, Career Choice, Intention, Self Concept, STEM Education, Majors (Students), Program Effectiveness
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; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California (Los Angeles)
Grant or Contract Numbers: TL4GM118977; UL1GM118976; RL5GM118975
Author Affiliations: 1California State University, Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research, Northridge, USA; 2California State University, Department of Child and Adolescent Development, Northridge, USA; 3California State University, Department of Health Sciences, Northridge, USA; 4California State University, Department of Biology, Northridge, USA; 5California State University, Department of Psychology, Northridge, USA