“I Fall Asleep in Class … But Physics Is Fascinating”: The Use of Large-Scale Longitudinal Data to Explore the Educational Experiences of Aspiring Girls in Mathematics and Physics

This article explores how students' aspirations to study mathematics or physics in post-16 education are associated with their perceptions of their education, their motivations, and the support they feel they received. The analysis is based on the responses of around 10,000 students in England in Year 8 (age 12–13) and then in Year 10 (age 14–15). The students were first surveyed during 2008–2009 and then followed up in 2010–2011. t-tests revealed a decline in their perceptions of their mathematics and physics education. Factor analyses indicated subject-specific constructs that were associated with gender aspiration groups (i.e., high-aspiring girls, high-aspiring boys, low-aspiring girls, low-aspiring boys). High-aspiring girls were more likely than low-aspiring boys to be positive about mathematics/physics education, motivation in these subjects, and support received. However, high-aspiring girls were less likely than high-aspiring boys to be encouraged by their teachers and families to continue with these subjects post-16 and had lower self-concepts, intrinsic valuations, and perceptions of lessons. Low-aspiring girls reported the least favorable views of their mathematics/physics education of all four gender aspiration groups. Findings were generally similar for mathematics and physics, although students overall responded more favorably to mathematics than to physics. The quantitative findings are illustrated with extracts from longitudinal interviews (ages 15, 16, and 17) of two high-aspiring girls

The Millennium Development Goals Agenda: Constraints of Culture, Economy, and Empowerment in Influencing the Social Mobility of Pakistani Girls on Mathematics and Science Related Higher Education Courses in Universities in Pakistan

The third of the eight Millennium Development Goals is to promote gender equality and empower women. This article discusses the factors that are associated with 31 female higher education students’ choices and aspirations to pursue education and careers in mathematics and science-related fields. The analysis is based on semistructured interviews. Patriarchal values in society impacted females’ own perceptions of their abilities and aspirations. Although extrinsic social gain motivation underpinned females’ choices, they had little awareness of the economic benefits of mathematics and science qualifications. Teaching styles were associated with females leaving the mathematics and science pipeline. / Le troisième des huit Objectifs de développement du millénium est de promouvoir l’égalité des sexes et de donner aux femmes le pouvoir de s’assumer. Cet article traite des facteurs liés aux choix et aux aspirations de 31 étudiantes universitaires ayant élu d’entreprendre une carrière en mathématiques ou dans un autre domaine scientifique. Notre analyse se fonde sur des entrevues semi-structurées. Les valeurs patriarcales de la société ont influencé la perception que les femmes elles-mêmes ont de leurs habiletés et aspirations. Bien que les motivations extrinsèques de gain social sous-tendent les choix des femmes, elles sont peu conscientes des avantages économiques liés aux compétences et aux diplômes de mathématiques ou de sciences. Il ressort que certains styles d’enseignement sont associés à l’abandon des mathématiques et des sciences de la part des femmes

Girls in the UK have similar reasons to boys for intending to study mathematics post-16 thanks to the support and encouragement they receive

This paper focuses on the aspirations of 13- and 15-year-olds to continue with mathematics after the age of 16 and the association with perceptions of their mathematics education during the academic year 2008/9. A quantitative analysis was undertaken on the views of 12,176 UK students, obtained through surveys, with qualitative case studies on two of these students lending support to the quantitative findings. This paper also places a focus on a sub-set of 1,476 London students. The analysis indicates that girls and boys with high mathematics aspirations had similar responses towards their mathematics teachers and lessons, and had comparable extrinsic mathematics motivation. However, girls, regardless of mathematics aspirations, were less likely than boys to be encouraged by their families and others within their social circles to study mathematics post-16. Many of the London findings are similar to those we found across the UK, although girls within London schools with high mathematics aspirations perceived their mathematics education to be more equitable. Low aspiring girls across the UK and in London still reported less support and encouragement, and described their mathematics education less favourably than did boys

Children’s Aspirations Towards Science-related Careers

Science-related careers are often considered to be less accessible by many children. More research is needed to distinguish any influences from different aspects of life so that support and/or interventions can be focused to help mitigate any disadvantage and inaccessibility. In order to gain greater understanding of constraints or influences on children’s aspirations towards science-related careers, a nationally-representative cohort of 7820 children in England was considered at age 11 and at age 14. At age 11, children’s science-related career aspirations were predictively associated with their ethnicity, gender, and science self-confidence, and also (at lower magnitudes) with the children’s motivation towards school and indicators of family advantage. At age 14, children’s aspirations were predictively associated with their prior aspirations (as of age 11), science self-confidence (as of age 14), and again with ethnicity and gender. Notably, these gender and ethnicity associations varied when considering specific aspirations towards science/engineering and towards medicine/health: boys were more likely to express science/engineering aspirations and less likely to express medicine/health aspirations; concurrently, children from some minority ethnic backgrounds were less likely to express science/engineering aspirations and more likely to express medicine/health aspirations. Overall, the findings suggest that support after age 11 still needs to promote the feasibility of different science careers for all children

Should we embed careers education in STEM lessons?

Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Schools have a particular responsibility to introduce young people to the range of possible options for them after they leave education as few families can provide this. However, in the United Kingdom, careers education is currently not strong in most schools for a number of reasons but principally due to its low status and shifts in government policy and funding. As a result, too many young people make subject choices for post-16 study that they subsequently regret. In particular, fewer young people in the United Kingdom choose post-16 STEM subjects than might do. Yet, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates are especially valued by employers. We draw on the findings of two research projects, ASPIRES and UPMAP, and argue that one way forward may be to embed careers education in STEM lessons. This can be done in ways that are respectful of and helpful to students. We recommend that an England- or UK-based project to investigate the consequences of embedding careers education in STEM lessons be undertaken

Students’ Changing Attitudes and Aspirations Towards Physics During Secondary School

Many countries desire more students to study science subjects, although relatively few students decide to study non-compulsory physics at upper-secondary school and at university. To gain insight into students’ intentions to study non-compulsory physics, a longitudinal sample (covering 2258 students across 88 secondary schools in England) was surveyed in year 8 (age 12/13) and again in year 10 (age 14/15). Predictive modelling highlighted that perceived advice, perceived utility of physics, interest in physics, self-concept beliefs (students’ subjective beliefs of their current abilities and performance) and home support specifically orientated to physics were key predictors of students’ intentions. Latent-transition analysis via Markov models revealed clusters of students, given these factors at years 8 and 10. Students’ intentions varied across the clusters, and at year 10 even varied when accounting for the students’ underlying attitudes and beliefs, highlighting that considering clusters offered additional explanatory power and insight. Regardless of whether three-cluster, four-cluster, or five-cluster models were considered, the majority of students remained in the same cluster over time; for those who transitioned clusters, more students changed clusters reflecting an increase in attitudes than changed clusters reflecting a decrease. Students in the cluster with the most positive attitudes were most likely to remain within that cluster, while students in clusters with less positive attitudes were more likely to change clusters. Overall, the cluster profiles highlighted that students’ attitudes and beliefs may be more closely related than previously assumed, but that changes in their attitudes and beliefs were indeed possible

Epistemic insight: Teaching about science and RE in secondary schools

This article reports on a teaching intervention for year 9/10 students (age 13-14) in secondary school biology and Religious Education (RE) lessons which was partly intended to deepen students’ reflections, empathy and literacy when considering the similarities, differences and relationships between religion and science. The intervention proved to be generally successful in meeting its aims for the students and also led to a number of the participating teachers changing their views in ways that were more positive about the worth of examining such issues in the classroom

Teachers’ perceptions of Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE) and the implications for gender equality in science education

This paper explores the perceived effectiveness of teacher training covering inquiry­based science learning for primary school children in England. Teachers who initially took part in teacher training between 2011 and 2013 as part of the FP7 project Pri­Sci­Net were interviewed during spring and summer term 2014; teachers were asked to reflect on their students’ reactions and engagement. Teachers’ responses were thematically analysed, and the implications are discussed within the context of longer­term implications of primary science education on girls’ attitudes and aspirations in science across their subsequent educatio

Science teaching and students’ attitudes and aspirations: The importance of conveying the applications and relevance of science

More people studying and working within science are desired in numerous countries, although it remains less clear how educators can help. Analysis considered nationally-representative samples of students in England, aged 15 (Year 11), from 2006 and 2015. On both occasions, accounting for students’ background and other views, students’ perceived utility of science most strongly and positively associated with their science-related career aspirations, while students’ reports of encountering different teaching approaches had smaller or no associations. Conveying the wider applications of science to students was the only teaching approach to consistently and positively associate with students’ utility and other attitudes. Developing students’ attitudes, and hence their aspirations, through highlighting the applications and relevance of science to everyday life may be beneficial