The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students
Scientists are often described as smart and logical thinkers but lacking in the so-called “soft skills.” Well-known TV series such as “The Big Bang Theory” and “Breaking Bad” have also shaped these stereotypical ideas in society. In the present study, a total of 1013 students in grades 8 and 11 were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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ICASE
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Science Education International |
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| Online Access: | https://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/427 |
| _version_ | 1828118594088599552 |
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| author | Philipp Spitzer |
| author_facet | Philipp Spitzer |
| author_sort | Philipp Spitzer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Scientists are often described as smart and logical thinkers but lacking in the so-called “soft skills.” Well-known TV series such as “The Big Bang Theory” and “Breaking Bad” have also shaped these stereotypical ideas in society. In the present study, a total of 1013 students in grades 8 and 11 were asked about factors that influenced a chemistry-related career choice. Since interest is considered an important factor influencing the career choice, the focus of this study was placed on images and stereotypes compared with academic self-concepts. The models calculated by multiple linear regressions showed significant differences in relation to grades but insignificant in terms of school type. A chemistry-related career choice of 11th grade students was based on the image of chemistry lessons and the distance between self-description and the view of a stereotypical chemical prototype whereas in grade 8 factors such as their grade in chemistry or factors of the academic self-concept also influenced this decision. The results point out the need to promote vocational orientation in chemistry lessons. It is particularly important that students have the opportunity to form a realistic image of chemists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:33:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f265cb4ca1014c94b3c63679f14bfc6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-2327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:33:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | ICASE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Science Education International |
| spelling | doaj.art-f265cb4ca1014c94b3c63679f14bfc6c2022-12-22T04:21:40ZengICASEScience Education International2077-23272022-09-0133327628310.33828/sei.v33.i3.2The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students Philipp Spitzer 0Center for Chemistry Education, University of Graz, Graz, Austria Scientists are often described as smart and logical thinkers but lacking in the so-called “soft skills.” Well-known TV series such as “The Big Bang Theory” and “Breaking Bad” have also shaped these stereotypical ideas in society. In the present study, a total of 1013 students in grades 8 and 11 were asked about factors that influenced a chemistry-related career choice. Since interest is considered an important factor influencing the career choice, the focus of this study was placed on images and stereotypes compared with academic self-concepts. The models calculated by multiple linear regressions showed significant differences in relation to grades but insignificant in terms of school type. A chemistry-related career choice of 11th grade students was based on the image of chemistry lessons and the distance between self-description and the view of a stereotypical chemical prototype whereas in grade 8 factors such as their grade in chemistry or factors of the academic self-concept also influenced this decision. The results point out the need to promote vocational orientation in chemistry lessons. It is particularly important that students have the opportunity to form a realistic image of chemists. https://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/427career orientation in chemistrystereotypes of chemistsimage of chemistrychemical prototypeprototype matching |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Spitzer The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students Science Education International career orientation in chemistry stereotypes of chemists image of chemistry chemical prototype prototype matching |
| title | The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students |
| title_full | The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students |
| title_fullStr | The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students |
| title_short | The Image of Chemistry and a Stereotypical View on Chemists as Important Factors for a Chemistry-Related Career Choice of Students |
| title_sort | image of chemistry and a stereotypical view on chemists as important factors for a chemistry related career choice of students |
| topic | career orientation in chemistry stereotypes of chemists image of chemistry chemical prototype prototype matching |
| url | https://www.icaseonline.net/journal/index.php/sei/article/view/427 |
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