Invisible barriers: how gender and class intersect to impact upon science participation in Irish secondary schools

Figures & data

Table 1. Frequency statistics of categorical variables.

Variable	Frequency	Valid Percentage
School Type
Non-DEIS	191	45.4
DEIS	230	54.6

Table 2. Percentage of students across schools studying leaving certificate science subject.

	DEIS	Non-DEIS
0 science Subjects	16%	16%
1 scienceSubjects	44%	35%
2 science Subjects	23%	27%
3 + science Subjects	17%	22%

Table 3. Percentage of students across schools with science knowledge & networks.

Variable	DEIS	Non-DEIS
I know what science is	90%	89%
I want to know about science courses	98%	99%
I want to know about science careers	95%	99%
I know a woman in science	55%	57%
I have a family member who works in science	48%	57%
I know a woman from my community in science	46%	48%
I have visited a science job	28%	20%
I know what a science job looks like	54%	48%

Figure 1. Differences in DEIS and non-DEIS students’ science study and career interest and confidence.

Table 4. Differences in DEIS and non-DEIS students’ science study and career confidence and interest.

Variable	Group	N	M	SD	t
Interest Study science	DEIS	229	3.76	.99	2.39*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.97	.88
Interest Work in science	DEIS	229	3.71	.99	2.55*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.94	.89
Confidence Study science	DEIS	229	3.67	.94	3.04*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.94	.80
Confidence Work in science	DEIS	229	3.67	.90	2.57*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.94	.94

Statistical significance: *p < .01 **p < .001.

Figure 2. Differences in DEIS and Non-DEIS students’ values, beliefs and expectations.

Table 5. Differences in DEIS and non-DEIS students’ science beliefs, expectations and perceptions.

Variable	Group	N	M	SD	t
science Utility Beliefs	DEIS	229	3.81	0.7	2.35*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.98	0.8
science Ability Expectations	DEIS	229	3.72	0.6	2.39*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.87	0.8
science Perceived Task Difficulty	DEIS	229	3.67	0.7	2.54*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.94	0.7

Statistical significance: *p < .01 **p < .001.

Figure 3. Differences in DEIS and Non-DEIS students’ science career interest scales.

Table 6. Differences in DEIS and Non-DEIS students’ science career interest scales.

Variable	Group	N	M	SD	t
I would enjoy a career in science	DEIS	229	3.55	0.9	2.29*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.79	1.0
My family is interested in the science courses I take	DEIS	229	3.61	0.9	3.36**
	Non-DEIS	191	3.93	0.8
I would like to have a career in science	DEIS	229	3.75	0.9	2.11*
	Non-DEIS	191	3.95	0.9

Statistical significance: *p < .01 **p < .001.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.