Latinx STEM Students’ Values toward Conducting Research for Social Change: Examining STEM Educational Experiences, HSIs, and Moderating Effects

ABSTRACT

This study uses a national longitudinal sample of 612 Latinx STEM bachelor’s degree recipients across 171 higher education institutions to examine the STEM undergraduate experiences and institutional contexts that predict their values toward conducting research that will have a meaningful impact on underserved communities. Results show that several background and precollege characteristics, particular STEM majors, learning about science and technology in society, and institutional characteristics predict this empowerment outcome. While attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) did not have a direct effect on the outcome, it was found to reduce the negative effect of majoring in math/statistics and computer science/tech. Implications for our current understanding of Latinx STEM success and the role of HSIs and PWIs are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Latinx STEM students
• Latinx empowerment
• Hispanic-serving institutions
• HSIs
• STEM and social justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ The term “Latinx” is used as a gender inclusive alternative to the terms “Latina” and “Latino,” which imply that gender is binary.

² Environmental science major effect was not examined via cross-level interactions as there were no environmental science majors who attended HSIs in the dataset.