Examining Self-Efficacy and Gender in Rural Secondary Engineering Education.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Examining Self-Efficacy and Gender in Rural Secondary Engineering Education.
Authors:	Schrewe, Laine¹ laineschrewe@gmail.com, Noel, Tiffany Karalis² tbkarali@buffalo.edu
Source:	Rural Educator. Spring2026, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p33-55. 23p.
Subject Terms:	Engineering education, Rural education, Gender inequality, Curriculum planning, Self-efficacy, Perseverance (Ethics), Teenage girls
Abstract:	Addressing the gender gap in engineering necessitates a thorough understanding of self-efficacy, and this study specifically focused on engineering self-efficacy of adolescent girls in secondary school. It identifies patterns linking rural students' engineering self-efficacy to other areas of their lives to unearth trends for students with high engineering self-efficacy that could be used to help overcome this gender gap. The study used a mixed-methods instrumental case study approach and clarified the relationships between high engineering self-efficacy and various aspects of life for rural students, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, and implicit gender beliefs, thus offering critical insights for educational improvements and future research directives. The analysis of survey data from students undertaking engineering electives in a rural Ohio school district led to the identification of key factors for curriculum development, including the need for project optimization to create a balance between challenge and success, the provision of targeted support and feedback, ensuring content relevance for a diverse student population, and establishing a robust foundation of technology skills. Notably, the study unearthed a significant relationship between adolescent girls showcasing high engineering self-efficacy and their readiness to engage in rigorous efforts to attain their goals. Conclusively, the findings suggest that rural educators need to be cognizant of their curriculum and interactions to nurture students' self-efficacy, with a call for more research into the association between perseverance and high engineering self-efficacy among adolescent girls in rural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Rural Educator is the property of National Rural Education Association 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

Description
Abstract:	Addressing the gender gap in engineering necessitates a thorough understanding of self-efficacy, and this study specifically focused on engineering self-efficacy of adolescent girls in secondary school. It identifies patterns linking rural students' engineering self-efficacy to other areas of their lives to unearth trends for students with high engineering self-efficacy that could be used to help overcome this gender gap. The study used a mixed-methods instrumental case study approach and clarified the relationships between high engineering self-efficacy and various aspects of life for rural students, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, and implicit gender beliefs, thus offering critical insights for educational improvements and future research directives. The analysis of survey data from students undertaking engineering electives in a rural Ohio school district led to the identification of key factors for curriculum development, including the need for project optimization to create a balance between challenge and success, the provision of targeted support and feedback, ensuring content relevance for a diverse student population, and establishing a robust foundation of technology skills. Notably, the study unearthed a significant relationship between adolescent girls showcasing high engineering self-efficacy and their readiness to engage in rigorous efforts to attain their goals. Conclusively, the findings suggest that rural educators need to be cognizant of their curriculum and interactions to nurture students' self-efficacy, with a call for more research into the association between perseverance and high engineering self-efficacy among adolescent girls in rural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	0273446X