Science-related professional aspirations and students' social background: Developing and validating the Taste for Science Test (TaSTe).
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| Title: | Science-related professional aspirations and students' social background: Developing and validating the Taste for Science Test (TaSTe). |
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| Authors: | Correia Fraga Junior, Jailton1 (AUTHOR) jailtoncfjr@gmail.com, Lima Junior, Paulo2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Research in Science Education. Feb2026, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p165-182. 18p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Science education, *Academic ability, *Vocational interests, *STEM occupations, Social background, Brazilians, Cultural capital, Structural equation modeling |
| People: | Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002 |
| Abstract: | Students' professional aspirations constitute an established area of research within the field of science education. To explore how students' taste for science bridges the gap between their social background and professional aspirations, we developed the Taste for Science Test (TaSTe), which draws on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice. We applied this test to a large sample of Brazilian students (n = 1582) for validation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were the main data analytical tools utilized. The results indicated that the TaSTe is a reliable measure of students' taste for science and mediates the relationship between social background and professional aspirations. Although the effects of family income and parental education on students' taste for science are modest, their effects on students' professional aspirations are notable. While parental education and family income modestly increase the taste for science, even most affluent middle-class families do not consistently demonstrate a positive relationship with science. These results highlight the importance of cultivating students' taste for science to address denialism and the lack of STEM professionals in developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Research in Science Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 191207463 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Science-related professional aspirations and students' social background: Developing and validating the Taste for Science Test (TaSTe). – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Correia+Fraga+Junior%2C+Jailton%22">Correia Fraga Junior, Jailton</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jailtoncfjr@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lima+Junior%2C+Paulo%22">Lima Junior, Paulo</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Research+in+Science+Education%22">Research in Science Education</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p165-182. 18p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+education%22">Science education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+ability%22">Academic ability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+interests%22">Vocational interests</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+occupations%22">STEM occupations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+background%22">Social background</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brazilians%22">Brazilians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+capital%22">Cultural capital</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+equation+modeling%22">Structural equation modeling</searchLink> – Name: SubjectPerson Label: People Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="PE" term="%22Bourdieu%2C+Pierre%2C+1930-2002%22">Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Students' professional aspirations constitute an established area of research within the field of science education. To explore how students' taste for science bridges the gap between their social background and professional aspirations, we developed the Taste for Science Test (TaSTe), which draws on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice. We applied this test to a large sample of Brazilian students (n = 1582) for validation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were the main data analytical tools utilized. The results indicated that the TaSTe is a reliable measure of students' taste for science and mediates the relationship between social background and professional aspirations. Although the effects of family income and parental education on students' taste for science are modest, their effects on students' professional aspirations are notable. While parental education and family income modestly increase the taste for science, even most affluent middle-class families do not consistently demonstrate a positive relationship with science. These results highlight the importance of cultivating students' taste for science to address denialism and the lack of STEM professionals in developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Research in Science Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=191207463 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s11165-025-10255-z Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 18 StartPage: 165 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Science education Type: general – SubjectFull: Academic ability Type: general – SubjectFull: Vocational interests Type: general – SubjectFull: STEM occupations Type: general – SubjectFull: Social background Type: general – SubjectFull: Brazilians Type: general – SubjectFull: Cultural capital Type: general – SubjectFull: Structural equation modeling Type: general – SubjectFull: Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002 Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Science-related professional aspirations and students' social background: Developing and validating the Taste for Science Test (TaSTe). Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Correia Fraga Junior, Jailton – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lima Junior, Paulo IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: Feb2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0157244X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 56 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Research in Science Education Type: main |
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