ASPIRES
Are you science-y??
ASPIRESASPIRES
How are student educational and occupational aspirations formed over time?
How are these aspirations influenced by their peers, parents and their experience of school science?
How are these aspirations shaped by their gender, class and ethnic identities?
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
ASPIRESASPIRES
Autumn 2009: Survey 1; 9319 primary school pupils (Year 6, age 10), 279 schools
Spring-summer 2010: Round 1 interviews; 92 Year 6 children, 78 parents; 11 schools
Autumn 2011: Survey 2; 5634 Year 8 pupils (age 12), 69 schools
Spring 2012: Round 2 interviews; 85 pupils (35 schools)
Winter-spring 2012-13: Round 3 interviews (Year 9 students & parents)
Jan-May 2013: Survey 3 Year 9 pupils
RESEARCH DESIGN
ASPIRESASPIRESYEAR 6 – YEAR 8 STANDARDISED MEANS
Latent Variable Year 6 Year 8
Aspirations in science 13.67 14.28
Peer attitudes to science 14.33 13.86
Parental attitudes to science
17.98 18.58
Self-concept in science 17.99 17.90
Attitudes toward school science
18.73 18.76
Participation in science-related activities
14.11 12.53
Positive views of scientists 19.47 19.34
ASPIRESASPIRES
74% (Year 6) and 73% (Year 8) agreed (or strongly agreed) that they learn interesting things in science lessons
58% (Year 6) and 52% (Year 8) agreed or strongly agreed that ‘science lessons are exciting’
68% (Year 6) and 70% (Year 8) felt that studying science is useful for getting a good job in the future
ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCHOOL SCIENCE
ASPIRESASPIRES
67% (Year 6) and 69% (Year 8) believed they do well in science
57% (Year 6) and 54% (Year 8) claimed to learn things quickly in science lessons
81% (Year 6) and 82% (Year 8) agreed if they study hard, they will do well in science
SELF-CONCEPT IN SCIENCE
ASPIRESASPIRES
40% (Year 6) and 43% (Year 8) were interested in studying more science in the future
28% (Year 6) and 32% (Year 8) claimed they wanted a job that used science
23% (Year 6) and 29% (Year 8) wanted to ‘work in science’
16% (Year 6) and 15% (Year 8) agreed that they wanted to become a scientist
ASPIRATIONS IN SCIENCE
ASPIRESASPIRES
% AGREEING/STRONGLY AGREEING
ASPIRESASPIRES
YEAR 8 ASPIRATIONS
ASPIRESASPIRESYEAR 6 & YEAR 8 MLM – EFFECT SIZESEffect (Variable) Year 6
Aspir.Year 8 Aspir.
Gender -0.13 -0.17
Parental attitudes towards science 0.44 0.39
Attitudes towards school science 0.53 0.51
Self-concept in science 0.20 0.21
Participation in science-related activities N/A 0.23
ASPIRESASPIRESFACTORS INFLUENCING SUBJECT CHOICE (Y8)
Observation Exploration Pattern recognition Experimentation Fine motor control Hand-eye coordination Discussion Teamwork Creativity Planning Mental modelling Hypothesis making