Initial approach to a research writing course: a case study of STEM and non-STEM female students under pressure to succeed

Figures & data

Table 1. Mean (M) and Standard Error of the Mean (SEM) of the selected variables

Variables	Non-STEM M	SEM	STEM M	SEM
Attendance (0–100)	78.31	1.96	78.30	1.79
Generic writing skills (0–100)	79.76	0.81	81.13	0.73
Confidence in research writing*(0–100)	50.69	1.60	61.09	1.46
Self-efficacy (1–5)*	3.59	0.09	3.93	0.08
Chronotype (13–55)	31.52	0.58	32.65	0.53
First assignment* (0–100)	77.88	2.99	69.09	2.72

Significant differences between STEM and non-STEM students are marked by an asterisk.

Table 2. Regression analyses

Predictor Variables	B	SE	Beta	t	Sign.	rs	rs^2
Non-STEM majors
Constant	−10.704	23.237
Attendance	.595	.103	.487	5.769	.000	.90	.81
Generic writing skills	.605	.271	.185	2.233	.028	.46	.21
Research writing skills	.022	.111	.017	.203	ns	.32	.10
Self-efficacy	2.986	2.293	.110	1.302	ns	.19	.04
Chronotype	−.574	.377	−.130	−1.521	ns	.00	.00
STEM majors
Constant	−23.590	28.154
Attendance	1.205	.114	.687	10.546	.000	.99	.98
Generic writing skills	−.189	.267	−.048	−.710	ns	.09	.01
Research writing skills	−.017	.170	−.007	−.101	ns	.02	.00
Self-efficacy	.794	2.520	.020	.315	ns	.02	.00
Chronotype	.356	.390	.064	.912	ns	.28	.08

Note: Non-STEM: R = .547; STEM: R = .695. b = unstandardized regression coefficient; SE = standard error of the unstandardized regression coefficients; Beta = standardized regression coefficients; r_s = structure coefficients; r_s² = squared structure coefficients.

Table 3. Final course performance (2015–2021)

Course performance	Non-STEM	STEM
Poor	18.02%	9.44%
Satisfactory Performance	81.98%	90.56%