Maths interest in adolescence is a significant independent predictor of STEM career choice in emerging adulthood, for both males and females, including after adjusting for maths achievement and SES¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · associationalr2–r3·q3
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i? In the joint model, maths interest significantly and independently predicted STEM career choice (OR = 1.75), and remained significant after adjusting for maths achievement and SES (OR = 1.65). → Ferdinand 2024
q3 i? Maths interest significantly predicted STEM career choice in both sex-stratified samples (female ORs 1.63–1.77; male ORs 1.71–1.88). → Ferdinand 2024 (2)
Evidence¶
Ferdinand 2024¶
Ferdinand, R., Malanchini, M. & Rimfeld, K. (2024). Mathematics interest, self-efficacy, and anxiety predict STEM career choice in emerging adulthood. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-024-00275-1
q3 · i? · associational · r2
Binary logistic regression in the TEDS cohort jointly testing maths anxiety, self-efficacy and interest at ages 16–18 on STEM career choice at ~21. The article reports "maths interest (OR = 1.75" was a significant independent predictor; attenuated to OR = 1.65 after adjusting for achievement and SES.
"maths anxiety (OR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.64, 0.96], p =0 . 0 2 ) and maths interest (OR = 1.75, 95% CI [1.44, 2.67],p < 0.001) significantly and independently predicted STEM career choice"
Ferdinand 2024 (2)¶
Ferdinand, R., Malanchini, M. & Rimfeld, K. (2024). Mathematics interest, self-efficacy, and anxiety predict STEM career choice in emerging adulthood. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-024-00275-1
q3 · i? · associational · r3
Sex-stratified logistic regressions. Maths interest predicted STEM career choice in every model in the female sample (ORs 1.63–1.77) and in the male sample the article reports ORs "ranging from 1.71 to 1.88".
"In the female sample, maths interest significantly predicted STEM career choice across all models (ORs ranging from 1.63 to 1.77)"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Males were more than 2.5 times as likely as females to make a STEM career choice in the TEDS sample — related
- Maths self-efficacy predicted STEM career choice in females but not males, though the association was explained by maths achievement after adjustment — related
- Maths anxiety did not independently predict STEM career choice once maths achievement was controlled, though it predicted in the unadjusted joint model — related
- Maths anxiety predicted STEM career choice in males but not females, although the sex difference itself was not statistically significant — related
- Girls show less confidence and interest in math and science from early adolescence, and a strong math/science self-concept predicts course choice and performance for both genders — a broader claim this one bears on
- Maths self-efficacy did not independently predict STEM career choice when analysed jointly with maths anxiety and interest — related
- Female participants reported significantly higher maths anxiety and general anxiety, while males reported higher maths self-efficacy and maths interest — related
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