Our findings highlight the nuanced ways students relate to STEM role models, and how academic similarity can be a particularly powerful source of motivation for diverse students pursuing STEM career pathways.

#STEMeducation #Motivation #RoleModels #EquityInSTEM #EducationalPsychology #OpenAccess

This study answered these questions by exploring how college students feel similar to their STEM career role models, how similarity perceptions relate to STEM career motivation, and whether patterns differ for marginalized vs non-marginalized gender and racial/ethnic groups 🤔💭

Some similarities might also matter more for certain students. For example, gender similarity might be especially meaningful for women, who are less likely to see same-gender role models in STEM. Do certain similarities matter more/less to certain students?

There are many ways in which students can feel similar to role models (e.g., based on gender, race, academic traits). Which similarities matter most for motivation?

We know that STEM role models can be powerful sources of career motivation—especially when students perceive them as similar.

What’s less clear is which similarities matter most for students’ STEM career motivation and for whom.

Whaaat?!

big fan of self-depreciation and puns 😂

Huge thank you to Yichi Zhang (UGA), Harlee DiNello (UGA), & @emilyqr.bsky.social for their major contributions to this project!

Off the publish our findings 🏃🏻‍♀️

The takeaway:

Black & Hispanic youth see STEM as worthwhile, but concerns about cost and confidence may hold them back.

👉 To broaden STEM career participation, we must highlight STEM’s value and reduce these motivational barriers.

Pfiat euch, Graz! ✨

Key findings:
✨ Most salient motivators = value beliefs (STEM careers were seen as useful, important, interesting to pursue)

🚧 Most salient barriers = cost (time/effort) + low confidence (esp among Hispanic girls)

We qualitatively coded responses using situated expectancy-value theory to see:

👉 which beliefs were most salient in their minds
👉 whether patterns differed by gender × race/ethnicity

This year I presented on racially marginalized Black & Hispanic HS students’ motivational beliefs toward STEM careers.

🔎 We asked ~400 students to write about their perceived benefits & challenges of pursuing STEM.

I’m on my way! ✈️ So glad to know other peeps joining from the states 😊

Congrats!! 🤩