September 1st, 2004 | RESEARCH
The purpose of this longitudinal case study is to describe the educational trajectories of a sample of 152 young women from urban, low-income, single-parent families who participated in the Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) program during high school. Utilizing data drawn from program records, surveys, and interviews, this study also attempts to determine how the program affected the participants' educational and career choices to provide insight into the role informal science education programs play in increasing the participation of women and minorities in science, math, engineering, and technology (SMET)-related fields. Findings revealed 109 participants (93.16%) enrolled in a college program following high school completion. Careers in medical or health-related fields followed by careers in SMET emerged as the highest ranking career paths with 24 students (23.76%) and 21 students (20.79%), respectively, employed in or pursuing careers in these areas. The majority of participants perceived having staff to talk to, the job skills learned, and having the museum as a safe place to go as having influenced their educational and career decisions. These findings reflect the need for continued support of informal science education programs for urban girls and at-risk youth.
Document
(no document provided)
Team Members
Kathleen Fadigan, Author, Temple UniversityPenny Hammrich, Author, Queens College
Citation
Identifier Type: DOI
Identifier: 10.1002/tea.20026
Publication: Journal of Research in Science Teaching
Volume: 41
Number: 8
Page(s): 835
Related URLs
Tags
Access and Inclusion: Women and Girls
Audience: Educators | Teachers | Evaluators | Museum | ISE Professionals | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Education and learning science | Life science
Resource Type: Peer-reviewed article | Research Products
Environment Type: Afterschool Programs | Public Programs