TY - JOUR
T1 - An Investigation of University Students and Professionals’ Professional STEM Identity Status
AU - Kelly, Regina
AU - Garr, Oliver Mc
AU - Leahy, Keelin
AU - Goos, Merrilyn
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Nature B.V.
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - Set amidst the backdrop of concerns related to the entry of students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers, this study seeks to understand the Professional STEM Identity status of STEM undergraduate students and STEM professionals. This study utilizes a cross-sectional research design to compare participant scores in the categories of affirmation, in-depth exploration, practices, commitment, and reconsideration of commitment in the Professional Identity Status Questionnaire (PISQ-5d). Cluster analysis was performed on the scores to indicate five Professional STEM Identity statuses: achievement status, foreclosure status, moratorium status, searching moratorium status, and diffused status. We initially envisaged that those in STEM careers would have more established STEM identities reflected in higher numbers in an achievement status category; however, this was not the case. These findings raise questions about the dominant approaches used in career guidance for STEM. We conclude that a more fluid and less fixed understanding of Professional STEM Identity may better guide research in the area of STEM and inform institutions that encourage strong affinities to particular STEM careers.
AB - Set amidst the backdrop of concerns related to the entry of students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers, this study seeks to understand the Professional STEM Identity status of STEM undergraduate students and STEM professionals. This study utilizes a cross-sectional research design to compare participant scores in the categories of affirmation, in-depth exploration, practices, commitment, and reconsideration of commitment in the Professional Identity Status Questionnaire (PISQ-5d). Cluster analysis was performed on the scores to indicate five Professional STEM Identity statuses: achievement status, foreclosure status, moratorium status, searching moratorium status, and diffused status. We initially envisaged that those in STEM careers would have more established STEM identities reflected in higher numbers in an achievement status category; however, this was not the case. These findings raise questions about the dominant approaches used in career guidance for STEM. We conclude that a more fluid and less fixed understanding of Professional STEM Identity may better guide research in the area of STEM and inform institutions that encourage strong affinities to particular STEM careers.
KW - Gender
KW - Higher education
KW - Professional identity
KW - STEM
KW - STEM careers
KW - STEM identity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084765592&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10956-020-09834-8
DO - 10.1007/s10956-020-09834-8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85084765592
SN - 1059-0145
VL - 29
SP - 536
EP - 546
JO - Journal of Science Education and Technology
JF - Journal of Science Education and Technology
IS - 4
ER -