Girls Are Good At STEM: Opening Minds And Providing Evidence Reduce Boys\u27 Stereotyping Of Girls\u27 STEM Ability

Girls and women face persistent negative stereotyping within STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). This field intervention was designed to improve boys\u27 perceptions of girls\u27 STEM ability. Boys (N = 667; mostly White and East Asian) aged 9-15 years in Canadian STEM summer camps (2017-2019) had an intervention or control conversation with trained camp staff. The intervention was a multi-stage persuasive appeal: a values affirmation, an illustration of girls\u27 ability in STEM, a personalized anecdote, and reflection. Control participants discussed general camp experiences. Boys who received the intervention (vs. control) had more positive perceptions of girls\u27 STEM ability, d = 0.23, an effect stronger among younger boys. These findings highlight the importance of engaging elementary-school-aged boys to make STEM climates more inclusive

Self-Expansion and Knowledge Sharing in Cross-Group Interactions

This research considers the role of self-expansion motivation and knowledge sharing orientation on the effects of cross-ethnic interactions. Study 1, a correlational study, showed that a higher level of self-expansion motivation prior to an actual cross-group interaction was associated with higher levels of the more specific desire to acquire knowledge from a cross-group partner, which in turn was associated with more positive cross-group interaction experiences, which were associated with higher levels of reported self-change as well as more support for multiculturalism and support for action for intergroup equality. Study 2, using an imagined contact scenario, partially replicated these findings, showing that a high knowledge-sharing orientation (knowledge acquisition and knowledge provision orientation) during an imagined cross-group interaction was associated with a more positive imaged cross-group experience and this was associated with more reported self-change, and more positive intergroup feelings and a greater interest in future contact with the target outgroup