5,154
Views
143
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
RESEARCH PAPER

Young Children's Aspirations in Science: The unequivocal, the uncertain and the unthinkable

, , , , &
Pages 1037-1063 | Published online: 23 Aug 2011

References

  • Andre , T. , Whigham , M. , Hendrickson , A. and Chambers , S. 1999 . Competency beliefs, positive affect, and gender stereotypes of elementary students and their parents about science versus other school subjects . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 36 ( 6 ) : 719 – 747 . (doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199908)36:6<719::AID-TEA8>3.0.CO;2-R)
  • Archer , L. 2010 . ‘Science is not for me?’: Exploring children's and families' engagement with science through the lens of identity . September Paper presented at the annual conference of the British Educational Research Association, University of Warwick
  • Archer, L., DeWitt, J., Osborne, J., Dillon, J., Willis, B., & Wong, B. (2010). “Doing” science versus “being” a scientist: Examining 10/11-year-old schoolchildren's constructions of science through the lens of identity. Science Education, 94(4), 617–639.
  • Aschbacher , P. R. , Li , E. and Roth , E. J. 2010 . Is science me? High school students' identities, participation and aspirations in science, engineering, and medicine . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 47 ( 5 ) : 564 – 582 .
  • Atherton , G. , Cymbir , E. , Roberts , K. , Page , L. and Remedios , R. 2009 . How young people formulate their views about the future , London : Department for Children, Schools and Families .
  • Baker , D. and Leary , R. 1995 . Letting girls speak out about science . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 32 ( 1 ) : 3 – 27 . (doi:10.1002/tea.3660320104)
  • Bandura , A. , Barbaranelli , C. , Caprara , G. V. and Pastorelli , C. 2001 . Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children's aspirations and career trajectories . Child Development , 72 ( 1 ) : 187 – 206 . (doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00273)
  • Beal , S. J. and Crockett , L. J. 2010 . Adolescents' occupational and educational aspirations and expectations: Links to high school activities and adult educational attainment . Developmental Psychology , 46 ( 1 ) : 258 – 265 . (doi:10.1037/a0017416)
  • Bennett , J. and Hogarth , S. 2009 . Would you want to talk to a scientist at a party? High school students' attitudes to school science and to science . International Journal of Science Education , 31 ( 14 ) : 1975 – 1998 . (doi:10.1080/09500690802425581)
  • Bleeker , M. M. and Jacobs , J. E. 2004 . Achievement in math and science: Do mothers' beliefs matter 12 years later? . Journal of Educational Psychology , 96 ( 1 ) : 97 – 109 . (doi:10.1037/0022-0663.96.1.97)
  • Bourdieu , P. 1984 . Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste , Cambridge , MA : Harvard University Press .
  • Caleon , I. S. and Subramaniam , R. 2008 . Attitudes towards science of intellectually gifted and mainstream upper primary students in Singapore . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 45 ( 8 ) : 940 – 954 . (doi:10.1002/tea.20250)
  • Carlone , H. B. and Johnson , A. 2007 . Understanding the science experiences of successful women of color: Science identity as an analytic lens . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 44 ( 8 ) : 1187 – 1218 . (doi:10.1002/tea.20237)
  • Ceci , S. J. , Williams , W. M. and Barnett , S. M. 2009 . Women's underrepresentation in science: Sociocultural and biological considerations . Psychological Bulletin , 135 ( 2 ) : 218 – 261 . (doi:10.1037/a0014412)
  • Cleaves , A. 2005 . The formation of science choices in secondary school . International Journal of Science Education , 27 ( 4 ) : 471 – 486 . (doi:10.1080/0950069042000323746)
  • Correll , S. J. 2001 . Gender and the career choice process: The role of biased self-assessments . The American Journal of Sociology , 106 ( 6 ) : 1961 – 1730 . (doi:10.1086/321299)
  • DeWitt, J., Archer, L., Osborne, J., Dillon, J., Willis, B., & Wong, B. (2011). High aspirations but low progression: The science aspirations-careers paradox amongst minority ethnic students. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 9(2), 243–271.
  • Diemer , M. A. 2007 . Parental and school influences upon the career development of poor youth of color . Journal of Vocational Behavior , 70 : 502 – 524 . (doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2007.02.003)
  • Eccles , J. S. , Vida , M. N. and Barber , B. 2004 . The relation of early adolescents' college plans and both academic ability and task-value beliefs to subsequent college enrollment . Journal of Early Adolescence , 24 ( 1 ) : 63 – 77 . (doi:10.1177/0272431603260919)
  • Elias , P. , Jones , P. and McWhinnie , S. 2006 . Representation of ethnic groups in chemistry and physics: A report prepared for the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics , London : Royal Society of Chemistry/Institute of Physics .
  • European Commission . 2004 . Europe needs more scientists: Report by the high level group on increasing human resources for science and technology , Brussels : Author .
  • Ferry , T. R. , Fouad , N. A. and Smith , P. L. 2000 . The role of family context in a social cognitive model for career-related choice behavior: A math and science perspective . Journal of Vocational Behavior , 57 ( 3 ) : 348 – 364 . (doi:10.1006/jvbe.1999.1743)
  • Fouad , N. A. and Byars-Winston , A. M. 2005 . Cultural context of career choice: Meta-analysis of race/ethnicity differences . The Career Development Quarterly , 53 : 223 – 233 . (doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2005.tb00992.x)
  • Francis , B. 2002 . Is the future really female? The impact and implications of gender for 14–16 year olds' career choices . Journal of Education and Work , 15 ( 1 ) : 75 – 88 . (doi:10.1080/13639080120106730)
  • Francis , B. , Hutchings , M. , Archer , L. and Melling , L. 2003 . Subject choice and occupational aspirations among pupils at girls' schools . Pedagogy, Culture & Society , 11 ( 3 ) : 425 – 441 . (doi:10.1080/14681360300200182)
  • Fraser , B. J. and Kahle , J. B. 2007 . Classroom, home and peer environment influences on student outcomes in science and mathematics: An analysis of systemic reform data . International Journal of Science Education , 29 ( 15 ) : 1891 – 1909 . (doi:10.1080/09500690601167178)
  • George , R. 2006 . A cross-domain analysis of change in students' attitudes toward science and attitudes about the utility of science . International Journal of Science Education , 28 ( 6 ) : 571 – 589 . (doi:10.1080/09500690500338755)
  • Gilmartin , S. K. , Li , E. and Aschbacher , P. 2006 . The relationship between secondary students' interest in physical science or engineering, science class experiences, and family contexts: Variations by gender and race/ethnicity . Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering , 12 ( 2–3 ) : 179 – 207 . (doi:10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v12.i2-3.50)
  • Greenfield , T. A. 1997 . Gender- and grade-level differences in science interest and participation . Science Education , 81 ( 3 ) : 259 – 276 . (doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-237X(199706)81:3<259::AID-SCE1>3.0.CO;2-C)
  • Haussler , P. and Hoffmann , L. 2002 . An intervention study to enhance girls' interest, self-concept, and achievement in physics class . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 39 ( 9 ) : 870 – 888 . (doi:10.1002/tea.10048)
  • Hazari , Z. , Sonnert , G. , Sadler , P. M. and Shanahan , M.-C. 2010 . Connecting high school physics experiences, outcome expectations, physics identity, and physics career choice: A gender study . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 47 ( 8 ) : 978 – 1003 .
  • HM Treasury . 2006 . Science and innovation investment framework: Next steps , London : HMSO .
  • Hutchinson , J. , Stagg , P. and Bentley , K. 2009 . STEM careers awareness timelines: Attitudes and ambitions towards science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM at Key Stage 3) , Derby : International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) .
  • Jacobs , J. E. , Finken , L. L. , Griffen , N. L. and Wright , J. D. 1998 . The career plans of science-talented rural adolescent girls . American Educational Research Journal , 35 ( 4 ) : 681 – 704 .
  • Jenkins , E. and Nelson , N. W. 2005 . Important but not for me: Students' attitudes toward secondary school science in England . Research in Science & Technological Education , 23 ( 1 ) : 41 – 57 . (doi:10.1080/02635140500068435)
  • Jovanovic , J. and King , S. S. 1998 . Boys and girls in the performance-based science classroom: Who's doing the performing? . American Educational Research Journal , 35 ( 3 ) : 477 – 496 .
  • Keller , B. K. and Whiston , S. C. 2008 . The role of parental influences on young adolescents' career development . Journal of Career Assessment , 16 ( 2 ) : 198 – 217 . (doi:10.1177/1069072707313206)
  • Kessels , U. and Hannover , B. 2008 . When being a girl matters less: Accessibility of gender-related self-knowledge in single-sex and coeducational classes and its impact on students' physics-related self-concept of ability . British Journal of Educational Psychology , 78 : 273 – 289 . (doi:10.1348/000709907X215938)
  • Koren , P. and Bar , V. 2009 . Pupils' image of ‘the scientist’ among two communities in Israel: A comparative study . International Journal of Science Education , 31 ( 18 ) : 2485 – 2509 . (doi:10.1080/09500690802449375)
  • Lindahl , B. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching . New Orleans , LA . A longitudinal study of students' attitudes towards science and choice of career , April .
  • Lyons , T. 2006 . Different countries, same science classes: Students' experience of school science classes in their own words . International Journal of Science Education , 28 ( 6 ) : 591 – 613 . (doi:10.1080/09500690500339621)
  • Lyons , T. and Quinn , F. 2010 . Choosing science: Understanding the declines in senior high school science enrolments , Armidale , , Australia : University of New England .
  • Markus , H. and Nurius , P. 1986 . Possible selves . American Psychologist , 41 ( 9 ) : 954 – 969 . (doi:10.1037/0003-066X.41.9.954)
  • McWhirter , E. H. 1997 . Perceived barriers to education and career: Ethnic and gender differences . Journal of Vocational Behavior , 50 : 124 – 140 . (doi:10.1006/jvbe.1995.1536)
  • Miller , P. H. , Blessing , J. S. and Schwartz , S. 2006 . Gender differences in high-school students' views about science . International Journal of Science Education , 28 ( 4 ) : 363 – 381 . (doi:10.1080/09500690500277664)
  • Murphy , C. and Beggs , J. 2005 . Primary science in the UK: A scoping study. Final report to the Wellcome Trust , London : Wellcome Trust .
  • Murphy , P. and Whitelegg , E. 2006 . Girls in the physics classroom: A review of the research on the participation of girls in physics , London : Institute of Physics .
  • National Academy of Sciences: Committee on Science Engineering and Public Policy . 2005 . Rising above the gathering storm: Energizing and employing America for a brighter economic future , Washington , DC : Author .
  • Omerod , M. B. and Duckworth , D. 1975 . Pupils' attitudes to science , Slough : NFER .
  • Osborne , J. F. , Simon , S. and Collins , S. 2003 . Attitudes towards science: A review of the literature and its implications . International Journal of Science Education , 25 ( 9 ) : 1049 – 1079 . (doi:10.1080/0950069032000032199)
  • Owen, S.V., Toepperwein, M.A., Marshall, C.E., Lichtenstein, M.J., Blalock, C.L., Liu, Y., . . . Grimes, K. (2008). Finding pearls: Psychometric reevaluation of the Simpson-Troost Attitude Questionnaire. Science Education, 92(6), 1076–1095.
  • Panizzon , D. and Levins , L. 1997 . An analysis of the role of peers in supporting female students' choices in science subjects . Research in Science Education , 27 ( 2 ) : 251 – 270 . (doi:10.1007/BF02461320)
  • Schagen , I. and Elliot , K. 2004 . But what does it mean? The use of effect sizes in educational research , Edited by: Schagen , I. and Elliot , K. Slough : NFER .
  • Schmidt , J. A. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching . Philadelphia , PA . How does science feel to high school students? A comparison by gender and subject area ,
  • Simpkins , S. D. , Davis-Kean , P. E. and Eccles , J. S. 2006 . Math and science motivation: A longitudinal examination of the links between choices and beliefs . Developmental Psychology , 42 ( 1 ) : 70 – 83 . (doi:10.1037/0012-1649.42.1.70)
  • Springate , I. , Harland , J. , Lord , P. and Wilkin , A. 2008 . Why choose physics and chemistry? The influences on physics and chemistry subject choices of BME students , London : Institute of Physics .
  • Stake , J. E. 2006 . The critical mediating role of social encouragement for science motivation and confidence among high school girls and boys . Journal of Applied Social Psychology , 36 ( 4 ) : 1017 – 1045 . (doi:10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00053.x)
  • Stake , J. E. and Nickens , S. D. 2005 . Adolescent girls' and boys' science peer relationships and perceptions of the possible self as scientist . Sex Roles , 52 ( 1–2 ) : 1 – 11 . (doi:10.1007/s11199-005-1189-4)
  • St Clair , R. and Benjamin , A. 2011 . Performing desires: The dilemma of aspirations and educational attainment . British Educational Research Journal , 37 ( 3 ) : 501 – 517 . (doi:10.1080/01411926.2010.481358)
  • Stevenson , J. and Clegg , S. 2011 . Possible selves: Students orientating themselves towards the future through extracurricular activity . British Educational Research Journal , 37 ( 2 ) : 231 – 246 . (doi:10.1080/01411920903540672)
  • Strand , S. 2007 . Minority ethnic pupils in the longitudinal study of young people in England (LSYPE) , London : Department for Children, Schools and Families .
  • Strand , S. 2011 . The limits of social class in explaining ethnic gaps in educational attainment . British Educational Research Journal , 37 ( 2 ) : 197 – 229 . (doi:10.1080/01411920903540664)
  • Strand , S. and Winston , J. 2008 . Educational aspirations in inner city schools . Educational Studies , 34 ( 4 ) : 249 – 267 . (doi:10.1080/03055690802034021)
  • Sturman , L. , Ruddock , G. , Burge , B. , Styles , B. , Lin , Y. and Vappula , H. 2008 . England's achievement in TIMSS 2007: National report for England , Slough : NFER .
  • Taconis , R. and Kessels , U. 2009 . How choosing science depends on students' individual fit to ‘science culture’ . International Journal of Science Education , 31 ( 8 ) : 1115 – 1132 . (doi:10.1080/09500690802050876)
  • Tai , R. H. , Liu , C. Q. , Maltese , A. V. and Fan , X. 2006 . Planning early for careers in science . Science , 312 : 1143 – 1144 . (doi:10.1126/science.1128690)
  • The Royal Society . 2006 . A degree of concern? UK first degrees in science, technology and mathematics , London : Author .
  • Turner , S. L. , Steward , J. C. and Lapan , R. T. 2004 . Family factors associated with sixth-grade adolescents' math and science career interests . The Career Development Quarterly , 53 : 41 – 52 . (doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2004.tb00654.x)
  • Tytler , R. , Osborne , J. F. , Williams , G. , Tytler , K. , Clark , J. C. , Tomei , A. and Forgasz , H. 2008 . Opening up pathways: Engagement in STEM across the primary-secondary school transition. A review of the literature concerning supports and barriers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics engagement at primary-secondary transition. Commissioned by the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations , Melbourne : Deakin University .
  • Vidal Rodeiro , C. L. 2007 . A level subject choice in England: Patterns of uptake and factors affecting subject preferences , Cambridge : University of Cambridge, Local Examinations Syndicate .
  • Wang , J. and Staver , J. R. 2001 . Examining relationships between factors of science education and student career aspiration . The Journal of Educational Research , 94 ( 5 ) : 312 – 319 . (doi:10.1080/00220670109598767)
  • Weisgram , E. S. and Bigler , R. S. 2006 . Girls and science careers: The role of altruistic values and attitudes about scientific tasks . Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology , 27 ( 4 ) : 326 – 348 . (doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2006.04.004)
  • Wyer , M. 2003 . Intending to stay: Images of scientists, attitudes toward women, and gender as influences on persistence among science and engineering majors . Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering , 9 ( 1 ) : 1 – 16 . (doi:10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v9.i1.10)
  • Zeldin , A. L. and Pajares , F. 2000 . Against the odds: Self-efficacy beliefs of women in mathematical, scientific, and technological careers . American Educational Research Journal , 37 ( 1 ) : 215 – 246 .

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.