Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students
To better understand the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) aspiration, the article examines the critical role of domain-specific motivation (i.e., expectancy and task values). Using longitudinal data from 5th and 6th grade (∼11–12-year-old) students (n = 360, 55% girls),...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.954325/full |
| _version_ | 1828257777824301056 |
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| author | Kezia Olive Xin Tang Anni Loukomies Kalle Juuti Katariina Salmela-Aro |
| author_facet | Kezia Olive Xin Tang Anni Loukomies Kalle Juuti Katariina Salmela-Aro |
| author_sort | Kezia Olive |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To better understand the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) aspiration, the article examines the critical role of domain-specific motivation (i.e., expectancy and task values). Using longitudinal data from 5th and 6th grade (∼11–12-year-old) students (n = 360, 55% girls), person-oriented analyses was applied to understand the gendered motivational profiles and their longitudinal influence on achievement and STEM aspiration. Specifically, we aimed to (1) derive motivational belief profiles regarding science, mathematics, and language (Finnish), (2) analyze the stability and change in the profiles between the 5th and 6th grade, (3) assess the relationship between motivational profiles and achievement and STEM aspiration, and (4) test for gender differences. We derived four motivational profiles for both years: high motivation in all subjects (∼21%), high mathematics motivation (∼46%), low mathematics motivation (∼11%), and low motivation in all subjects (∼8%). Latent transition analysis revealed that most students remained in the same profile throughout the 2 years. We found evidence of gendered differences in the motivational profiles and the chance of transitioning between profiles. More girls are characterized by low math motivation, while boys are more likely to transition to higher math motivation in 6th grade. The motivational difference is reflected in their achievement, although not strongly coupled with their STEM aspiration. The findings suggest that at this developmental stage, Finnish students have not developed a strong association between (gendered) STEM aspiration and their domain-specific motivation, although their motivation may have influenced their achievement. Interpretation and practical implications are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:46:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e146cbd1a5f4441ca629eab51d930fe2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:46:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e146cbd1a5f4441ca629eab51d930fe22022-12-22T03:06:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-08-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.954325954325Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school studentsKezia OliveXin TangAnni LoukomiesKalle JuutiKatariina Salmela-AroTo better understand the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) aspiration, the article examines the critical role of domain-specific motivation (i.e., expectancy and task values). Using longitudinal data from 5th and 6th grade (∼11–12-year-old) students (n = 360, 55% girls), person-oriented analyses was applied to understand the gendered motivational profiles and their longitudinal influence on achievement and STEM aspiration. Specifically, we aimed to (1) derive motivational belief profiles regarding science, mathematics, and language (Finnish), (2) analyze the stability and change in the profiles between the 5th and 6th grade, (3) assess the relationship between motivational profiles and achievement and STEM aspiration, and (4) test for gender differences. We derived four motivational profiles for both years: high motivation in all subjects (∼21%), high mathematics motivation (∼46%), low mathematics motivation (∼11%), and low motivation in all subjects (∼8%). Latent transition analysis revealed that most students remained in the same profile throughout the 2 years. We found evidence of gendered differences in the motivational profiles and the chance of transitioning between profiles. More girls are characterized by low math motivation, while boys are more likely to transition to higher math motivation in 6th grade. The motivational difference is reflected in their achievement, although not strongly coupled with their STEM aspiration. The findings suggest that at this developmental stage, Finnish students have not developed a strong association between (gendered) STEM aspiration and their domain-specific motivation, although their motivation may have influenced their achievement. Interpretation and practical implications are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.954325/fullmotivationelementary schoolexpectancy-value theorygenderSTEM aspirationlatent profile analysis |
| spellingShingle | Kezia Olive Xin Tang Anni Loukomies Kalle Juuti Katariina Salmela-Aro Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students Frontiers in Psychology motivation elementary school expectancy-value theory gender STEM aspiration latent profile analysis |
| title | Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students |
| title_full | Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students |
| title_fullStr | Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students |
| title_short | Gendered difference in motivational profiles, achievement, and STEM aspiration of elementary school students |
| title_sort | gendered difference in motivational profiles achievement and stem aspiration of elementary school students |
| topic | motivation elementary school expectancy-value theory gender STEM aspiration latent profile analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.954325/full |
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