Developing a Measure of STEM Identity and Balance

以前的研究已经证明，强烈的科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)认同感预示着STEM学科的坚持性和成功。个人对STEM的认同程度不同，这取决于他们对STEM的看法和其他重要身份。该项目将通过开发、试验和测试一种新的测量仪器和分析方法，增加研究人员可用于测量STEM的工具-身份认同、其他身份和身份平衡。将从加州州立大学的三个校区(圣马科斯、长滩、北岭)招募大约300名STEM专业的学生，他们来自STEM代表性较低的群体和传统上STEM代表性较高的群体。新的测量工具将使研究人员能够更好地了解STEM身份的发展，并有望导致更有效的干预措施，以增加和扩大对STEM的参与。测量工具的设计以社会认同和平衡认同理论为基础，旨在回答关于STEM认同及其与其他自我认同的平衡的一系列研究问题。该项目将测试这一新工具的有效性和可靠性，以测量STEM认同以及随着时间的推移STEM认同的发展。这项研究可以促进对扩大STEM领域参与所需干预措施的了解。该项目由EHR核心研究(ECR)计划资助，该计划为寻求理解、构建理论以解释并提出干预措施(和创新)的基础研究提供资金，以解决STEM兴趣、教育、学习和参与方面的持续挑战。

Previous research has demonstrated that a strong Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) identity predicts persistence and success in STEM disciplines. Individuals identify themselves with STEM to varying degrees depending on their perceptions of STEM and their other important identities. This project will add to the tools available to researchers to measure STEM-identity, other identities, and identity balance by developing, piloting and testing a new measurement instrument and analytic approach. Approximately 300 STEM majors, from underrepresented groups and from groups traditionally well represented in STEM, will be recruited into the project from three California State University campuses (San Marcos, Long Beach, Northridge). The new measurement tool will allow researchers to better understand STEM identity development and is expected to lead to more effective interventions to increase and broaden participation in STEM. The measurement instrument design is based on social identity and balanced identity theories and is intended to answer a range of research questions about STEM-identity and its balance with other self-identities. This project will test the validity and reliability of this new tool for measuring STEM-identity and the development of STEM-identity over time. This study could advance knowledge about interventions needed to broaden participation in STEM fields. The project is funded by the EHR Core Research (ECR) program, which funds basic research that seeks to understand, build theory to explain, and suggest interventions (and innovations) to address persistent challenges in STEM interest, education, learning, and participation.