Outreach Programs and Science Career Intentions (OPSCI)

外展计划和科学职业意向(OPSCI)随着公众对STEM空缺职位空缺的经济影响日益关注，这个为期三年的STEP Type 2研究项目侧重于STEP计划所开展的大学前外展活动对学生追求STEM职业意向的影响。使用流行病学类型的方法，这项回溯性队列研究考察了针对一年级学生的活动对职业抱负的影响程度。正在审查的活动包括STEP支持的科学俱乐部、桥牌项目、补充指导、辅导、实习、工程竞赛，以及STEM学生和教职员工的高中访问。这一努力将研究人员和从业人员聚集在一起，努力在实施侧重于从中学向高等教育过渡的有效做法时更多地使用以研究为基础的证据。这项研究考察了使学生倾向于STEM的因素，重点是代表性不足的少数族裔和年轻女性。控制背景变量、社会经济地位、父母和其他学生熟悉的成年人的职业、标准化考试成绩、高中课程学习和成绩，以及在较早的三个时间(初中、高中开始、高中结束)自我报告的职业意图，允许构建预测模型，以隔离大学前STEP计划暴露的影响。利用流行病学方法得出强有力的结论，这项研究包括了对STEM职业感兴趣的学生和对STEM职业不感兴趣的学生。研究结果提供了学生在大学入学时对STEM的兴趣的基线信息，并为解决与学生在本科学习期间对STEM的兴趣和离开STEM相关的问题奠定了基础。

Outreach Programs and Science Career Intentions (OPSCI)With increased public concern over the economic impact of unfilled STEM job openings this three-year STEP Type 2 research project focuses on the impact of pre-college outreach activities undertaken by STEP programs on students' intent to pursue a STEM career. Using epidemiological-type methods, this retrospective cohort study examines the extent to which activities that target first-year students influence career aspirations. Activities under examination include STEP-supported science clubs, bridge programs, supplemental instruction, tutoring, internships, engineering competitions, and high school visits from students and faculty in STEM. This effort brings together researchers and practitioners in an effort to increase the use of research-based evidence in the implementation of effective practices focused on the transition from secondary to post-secondary education. The study examines factors that pre-dispose students to STEM with an emphasis on underrepresented minorities and young women. Controlling for background variables, SES, careers of parents and other adults familiar to students, standardized exam scores, and high school course-taking and grades, as well as self-reported career intentions at three earlier times (middle school, start of high school, end of high school) allows for the construction of predictive models that isolate the effects of pre-college STEP program exposure. Drawing on epidemiological-type methods to enable strong conclusions, the study includes students interested in STEM careers and those who are not. Findings from the study provide baseline information on students' interest in STEM at entrance to college and build a foundation for addressing issues associated with students' interest in and leaving STEM during their undergraduate studies.