Education Commons^™

Empowering Female College Students In Pursuing Careers In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics (Stem), Jordan Armstrong

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As the STEM field continues to grow, it is evident that there is a need to close the gender gap between males and females. This senior capstone examines the evolution of the acronym STEM and how programs have attempted to narrow the gender gap, but it is not easy to completely close the gap. Through a literature review and surveys with educators at the high school and university levels, this research project looks at the factors that have empowered female students to pursue careers in STEM. The findings provide insight into what has led female college students to pursue careers …

The Relationship Between Gender, Academic Performance, And Confidence Within Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Classes, Allison Cheek, Allison Kay Cheek

Honors Projects

This research investigated the relationship between student confidence, academic performance, and gender within sixth, seventh, and eighth grade STEM classes. [BAC1] After comparing student self-esteem survey scores to student math and science grades, two types of statistical tests were run (linear regression tests and a comparison of two means). The result of these tests suggests that there is not a statistical relationship between student confidence, academic performance, and gender within the sample population of 122 junior high students. It appears that the gender gap within STEM has closed, at least for this student sample population.

School And District Leader Perceptions Of The Root Causes Behind Male Underachievement In American Secondary Schools: A Mixed-Methods Study Of This Phenomenon, Patrick Hegarty

WWU Graduate School Collection

The Title IX legislation of 1972 asserts that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, ..” This, along with other movements and forces of the past half century, laid the foundation for our ongoing challenging, national dialogue about individuality, identity, opportunity, equality, and equity. This study advances that conversation based on the continuing evidence of male underachievement in our secondary schools.

The purpose of this study was to explore school …

Closing The Gender Gap In Entrepreneurship Education, Carolyn J. Rodeffer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Entrepreneurship education in higher education has been cited as a key strategy in filling the entrepreneurship talent pool, preparing students with the skills and confidence needed to start new ventures (Westhead & Solesvik, 2016). However, outcomes of entrepreneurship education for female students are less positive than for their male counterparts (Shinnar et al., 2012; Westhead & Solesvik, 2016; Wilson et al., 2007). Working within the frameworks of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (1977), Azjen’s theory of planned behavior (1991), and Steele and Aronson’s stereotype threat theory (1995), this quantitative study utilized an experimental research design to assess the impact of role model …

Gender Bias In The Classroom: An In-Service To Create Change, David Schmidt

Culminating Experience Projects

Female students are not often treated the same way as male students in the elementary classroom. Teachers bring their gender bias into their daily practices and unknowingly encourage male student towards STEM subjects and female students away from STEM subjects. This results in a gender gap in STEM careers. This project aims to combat gender bias by holding an in-service. Research supports the idea that once bias has been addressed in individuals, they are less likely to hold on to their bias. Participants will take a test to discover their bias, be presented with relevant research, read an article on …

A Study Of Steam Instruction And Its Impact On Female Students’ Underrepresentation In Stem Fields, Xin Huang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In China, there have traditionally been two streams of education in college: STEM and liberal arts. However, some tertiary institutions have introduced a third option—STEAM—that integrates arts into STEM as supplemental practice. Given that this is a recent approach, it remains unclear how this new model shapes female students’ engagement in STEM and the effects that STEAM has on their performance in STEM fields. To gain insights into this phenomenon, focus group discussion and one-on-one interviews were conducted to collect individual experience and in-depth perspectives to explore the influence that STEAM-based instruction has on females’ interest in, self-confidence in, and …

Gender Involvement At The Graduate Level, Ann Elizabeth Nitsche

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research study identifies the attitudes and opinions of the target population on identifying a gender gap in graduate-level education. The target population consists of 28 female graduate students enrolled in the spring 2021 semester at Rowan University. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge about the gender gap and female involvement within the graduate programs at Rowan University, a public research university located in Glassboro, New Jersey. The literature review for the study examines the current research on a woman's place within the realm of higher education. It also discusses the background of women's education …

Beating The Odds: Perseverance And Its Influence On Male Students’ Perceptions In Overcoming Generational Poverty, Grady C. Bailey Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the perceived influences that male graduates from Title I high schools attribute to their success. During the last 30 years the poverty gap has not narrowed and in some cases it has increased. This study hoped to provide evidence of supports needed by looking at males who overcame generational poverty. This study included qualitative data collection from interviews of 15 male participants. Nine themes emerged in the findings of perceived influences by these participants. The nine themes identified where 1) Success has two components; internal and external, 2) School personnel and programs guided success, 3) Change …

On Human Capital Development In Bangladesh, Sijia Xu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation consists of three chapters on human capital development in Bangladesh. The first chapter provides microeconometric evidence that access to electricity has a positive impact on the nutritional status of children under five in rural Bangladesh.

Teachers’ Perspectives: Exploring The Reading Gender Gap Among Elementary School Boys, Teleshia Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers’ Perspectives: Exploring the Reading Gender Gap Among Elementary School Boys. Teleshia Mincey-Jones, 2016: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. Keywords: academic achievement, achievement gap, elementary education, reading readiness, gender differences.

Reading mastery is essential for academic success. As an emphasis is placed on more rigor in education, some boys are being left behind in the area of reading. School districts are adopting new rigorous standards and transitioning to produce students who are career and college ready upon graduation. Girls are responding positively and thriving academically; yet, boys continue to underperform girls at the district, …

An Examination Of The Key Factors That Impact The Gender Gap In Reading, Phyllis Pegram

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to provide information on the factors that impact the male gender gap in reading. Disparities between the reading achievement of boys and girls have long been a concern for educators. There are many reasons boys are lagging behind in reading such as the lack of male role models, stereotyping, lack of interest in reading material, and differences in brain development in boys and girls. Peer pressure also plays a role in the reading success of boys and reading may be considered a feminine activity. Another reason boys do not perform well in reading is their great …

Middle School Students' Perceptions Of The Gender And Ethnic Gap In Achievement, Marian Elizabeth Hendrickson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study used a mix-method approach to determine achievement gap in gender and ethnicity. Quantitative data was collected from the 2008-2009 Arkansas state Benchmark exam to investigate the extent of the gap in the school. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 13 students. The students were asked to explain their perceptions of the gender and ethnicity gap in the school. The use of two methods for this study enabled the researcher to better understand the actual achievement gap that appeared at the school and compare this information to the information provided by the participants. The Quantitative data gathered …

Comparisons Of Attitudes Toward Computer Use And Computer Technology Based On Gender And Race/Ethnicity Among Eighth Graders, Kitty J. Boitnott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not having a laptop computer for individual use 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week lessens differences between how eighth grade girls and eighth grade boys in 10 middle schools in HenricoCounty, Virginia perceive computer use and computer technology. Having a laptop computer to use at any time of the day or night eliminates the issue of competition between boys and girls for computer use. It also eliminates the need for either girls or boys to perform in front of other students while learning, thus lessening to some degree, feelings of computer anxiety. Competition for …