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Science Possible Selves And The Desire To Be A Scientist: Mindsets, Gender Bias, And Confidence During Early Adolescence, Patricia Wonch Hill, Julia Mcquillan, Eli Talbert, Amy N. Spiegel, G. Robin Gauthier, Judy Diamond

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

In the United States, gender gaps in science interest widen during the middle school years. Recent research on adults shows that gender gaps in some academic fields are associated with mindsets about ability and gender-science biases. In a sample of 529 students in a U.S. middle school, we assess how explicit boy-science bias, science confidence, science possible self (belief in being able to become a scientist), and desire to be a scientist vary by gender. Guided by theories and prior research, we use a series of multivariate logistic regression models to examine the relationships between mindsets about ability and these …