Gendered Interests in Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering: Intersections with Career Outcome Expectations
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| Title: | Gendered Interests in Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering: Intersections with Career Outcome Expectations |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Potvin, Geoff (ORCID |
| Source: | IEEE Transactions on Education. Nov 2018 61(4):298-304. |
| Availability: | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Tel: 732-981-0060; Web site: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=13 |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 7 |
| Publication Date: | 2018 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| Contract Number: | EEC1428523 EEC1428689 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Gender Differences, STEM Education, Engineering Education, Disproportionate Representation, Student Attitudes, Student Interests, Computer Science, Biomedicine, Design, Occupational Aspiration, Womens Education, Undergraduate Study |
| DOI: | 10.1109/TE.2018.2859825 |
| ISSN: | 0018-9359 |
| Abstract: | Contribution: The current study finds that female-identified students report stronger associations between "helping others" and interest in bioengineering/biomedical engineering than non-females, while they report less interest in electrical and computer engineering overall, with similar associations to factors such as "inventing/designing things" than non-females. Background: While women have made gains in STEM, electrical and computer engineering programs award 13% of their Bachelor's degrees to women while bioengineering/biomedical engineering programs award over 40%. Prior work suggests that women's persistent under-representation in electrical and computer engingeering may be due to them being drawn into other disciplines. Women persist in engineering at similar rates as men, so a better understanding of early college attitudes is needed. Research Questions: (1) How are career outcome expectations associated to electrical engineering, computer engineering, and bioengineering/biomedical engineering? (2) What are females' interests in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and bioengineering/biomedical engineering? (3) Are outcome expectations and major interests distinct for female-identified students? Methodology: Regression analyses were conducted on multiply-imputed data of introductory engineering students at four public universities in the U.S. Findings: Students associate inventing/designing things and "developing new knowledge and skills" to electrical engineering, and associate inventing/designing things and "working with people" (negative) to computer engineering. Students associate helping others and "supervising others" (negative) to bioengineering/biomedical engineering. Female-identified students are less interested in electrical and computer engineering, more interested in bioengineering/biomedical engineering, and associate helping others to bioengineering/biomedical engineering more strongly. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 35 |
| Entry Date: | 2018 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1195326 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Contribution: The current study finds that female-identified students report stronger associations between "helping others" and interest in bioengineering/biomedical engineering than non-females, while they report less interest in electrical and computer engineering overall, with similar associations to factors such as "inventing/designing things" than non-females. Background: While women have made gains in STEM, electrical and computer engineering programs award 13% of their Bachelor's degrees to women while bioengineering/biomedical engineering programs award over 40%. Prior work suggests that women's persistent under-representation in electrical and computer engingeering may be due to them being drawn into other disciplines. Women persist in engineering at similar rates as men, so a better understanding of early college attitudes is needed. Research Questions: (1) How are career outcome expectations associated to electrical engineering, computer engineering, and bioengineering/biomedical engineering? (2) What are females' interests in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and bioengineering/biomedical engineering? (3) Are outcome expectations and major interests distinct for female-identified students? Methodology: Regression analyses were conducted on multiply-imputed data of introductory engineering students at four public universities in the U.S. Findings: Students associate inventing/designing things and "developing new knowledge and skills" to electrical engineering, and associate inventing/designing things and "working with people" (negative) to computer engineering. Students associate helping others and "supervising others" (negative) to bioengineering/biomedical engineering. Female-identified students are less interested in electrical and computer engineering, more interested in bioengineering/biomedical engineering, and associate helping others to bioengineering/biomedical engineering more strongly. |
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| ISSN: | 0018-9359 |
| DOI: | 10.1109/TE.2018.2859825 |
