SCC2013 - Engaging visitors through scientific discovery

ASPIRES

Are you science-y??

ASPIRESASPIRES

How are student educational and occupational aspirations formed over time?

How are these aspirations influenced by their peers, parents and their experience of school science?

How are these aspirations shaped by their gender, class and ethnic identities?

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

ASPIRESASPIRES

Autumn 2009: Survey 1; 9319 primary school pupils (Year 6, age 10), 279 schools

Spring-summer 2010: Round 1 interviews; 92 Year 6 children, 78 parents; 11 schools

Autumn 2011: Survey 2; 5634 Year 8 pupils (age 12), 69 schools

Spring 2012: Round 2 interviews; 85 pupils (35 schools)

Winter-spring 2012-13: Round 3 interviews (Year 9 students & parents)

Jan-May 2013: Survey 3 Year 9 pupils

RESEARCH DESIGN

ASPIRESASPIRESYEAR 6 – YEAR 8 STANDARDISED MEANS

Latent Variable Year 6 Year 8

Aspirations in science 13.67 14.28

Peer attitudes to science 14.33 13.86

Parental attitudes to science

17.98 18.58

Self-concept in science 17.99 17.90

Attitudes toward school science

18.73 18.76

Participation in science-related activities

14.11 12.53

Positive views of scientists 19.47 19.34

ASPIRESASPIRES

74% (Year 6) and 73% (Year 8) agreed (or strongly agreed) that they learn interesting things in science lessons

58% (Year 6) and 52% (Year 8) agreed or strongly agreed that ‘science lessons are exciting’

68% (Year 6) and 70% (Year 8) felt that studying science is useful for getting a good job in the future

ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCHOOL SCIENCE

ASPIRESASPIRES

67% (Year 6) and 69% (Year 8) believed they do well in science

57% (Year 6) and 54% (Year 8) claimed to learn things quickly in science lessons

81% (Year 6) and 82% (Year 8) agreed if they study hard, they will do well in science

SELF-CONCEPT IN SCIENCE

ASPIRESASPIRES

40% (Year 6) and 43% (Year 8) were interested in studying more science in the future

28% (Year 6) and 32% (Year 8) claimed they wanted a job that used science

23% (Year 6) and 29% (Year 8) wanted to ‘work in science’

16% (Year 6) and 15% (Year 8) agreed that they wanted to become a scientist

ASPIRATIONS IN SCIENCE

ASPIRESASPIRES

% AGREEING/STRONGLY AGREEING

ASPIRESASPIRES

YEAR 8 ASPIRATIONS

ASPIRESASPIRESYEAR 6 & YEAR 8 MLM – EFFECT SIZESEffect (Variable) Year 6

Aspir.Year 8 Aspir.

Gender -0.13 -0.17

Parental attitudes towards science 0.44 0.39

Attitudes towards school science 0.53 0.51

Self-concept in science 0.20 0.21

Participation in science-related activities N/A 0.23

ASPIRESASPIRESFACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECT CHOICE (Y8)

Observation Exploration Pattern recognition Experimentation Fine motor control Hand-eye coordination Discussion Teamwork Creativity Planning Mental modelling Hypothesis making