PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

e-ISSN 2231-8526
ISSN 0128-7680

Home / Regular Issue / JST Vol. 29 (2) Jun. 2021 / JSSH-7004-2020

 

Factors that Influence High School Female Students’ Intentions to Pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Malaysia

M Sultana Alam, Sadia Sajid, Jin Kuan Kok, Mobashar Rahman and Aamir Amin

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, Volume 29, Issue 2, June 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.2.06

Keywords: Female, intention, Malaysia, self-efficacy, STEM

Published on: 28 June 2021

Despite the increase in the number of female students in education indicating a reversal in the gender gap, their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia is still a matter of concern. This study extends empirical explanations for this gender gap and identifies factors influencing high school students’ intentions to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Malaysia. The present study aims to develop a framework of female intention to pursue STEM education by examining the impact of five independent variables on STEM self-efficacy and in turn the impact of self-efficacy on intention. The independent variables include attitude towards STEM, self-concept, gender stereotype, motivation, and teacher stereotypes. The study also examines the independent and moderating impact of career outcome expectancy on the relationship between self-efficacy and intention. Data was collected from 211 secondary school female students in Forms 4 and 5, studying at eight secondary schools in two states in Malaysia. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS. The results of the study show that attitude, motivation, and career outcome expectancy are positive and are significant predictors of STEM self-efficacy, whereas gender and teacher stereotypes are the negative predictors. The results of the study also highlight that self-efficacy is a strong predictor of intention to pursue STEM education. These findings of the study would assist policymakers to develop suitable strategies to improve female participation in STEM education in Malaysia.

  • Abdullah, K., Noor, N. M., & Wok, S. (2008). The perceptions of women’s roles and progress: A study of Malay women. Social Indicators Research, 89(3), 439-455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9242-7

  • Abu-Lail, N. I., Phang, F. A., Kranov, A. A., Mohd-Yusof, K., Olsen, R. G., Letricewilliams, R., & Abidin, A. Z. (2012, June 10-13). Persistent gender inequity in US undergraduate engineering: Looking to Jordan and Malaysia for factors to their success in achieving gender parity [Paper presentation]. 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--21793

  • Ackerman, E, C. (2020, December 21). What is self-efficacy theory in psychology? Positivepsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/self-efficacy/

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-t

  • Ambriz, J. (2016). Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) and Mexican/Mexican American youth career development, with a special focus on stem fields [Doctoral thesis, Washington State University]. http://hdl.handle.net/2376/12155

  • American Association of University Women. (2010). Why so few: Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Wellesley College Center for Research on Women.

  • Astin, H. S. (1975). Sex differences in mathematical and scientific precocity. The Journal of Special Education, 9(1), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.1177/002246697500900108

  • Azmawati, A. A., Endut, N., Hashim, I. H. M., Selamat, N. H., & Ying, K. (2017). Negotiation with patriarchy in women’s lives: A case study in a Malaysian public university. Journal of Business and Economics Review, 2(1), 28-35.

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Freeman.

  • Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G., & Postorelli, C. (2001). Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children’s aspirations and career trajectories. Child Development, 72(1), 187-206.  https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00273

  • Blair, C., Gamson, D., Thorne, S., & Baker, D. (2005). Rising mean IQ: Cognitive demand of mathematics education for young children, population exposure to formal schooling, and the neurobiology of the prefrontal cortex. Intelligence, 33(1), 93-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2004.07.008 

  • Blakemore, J. E. O. (2003). Children’s beliefs about violating gender norms: Boys shouldn’t look like girls, and girls shouldn’t act like boys. Sex roles, 48(9-10), 411-419.

  • Brown, P. L., Concannon, J. P., Marx, D., Donaldson, C., & Black, A. (2016). An examination of middle school students’ STEM self-efficacy, interests and perceptions. Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, 17(3), 27-38.

  • Chubin, D. E., May, G. S., & Babco, E. L. (2005). Diversifying the engineering workforce. Journal of Engineering Education, 94(1), 73-86. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2005.tb00830.x 

  • Cundiff, J. L., Vescio, T. K., Loken, E., & Lo, L. (2013). Do gender-science stereotypes predict science identification and science career aspirations among undergraduate science majors? Social Psychology of Education, 16(4), 541-554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-013-9232-8

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The” what” and” why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.  https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1104_01 

  • Eccles, J. S. (1994). Understanding women’s educational and occupational choices: Applying the Eccles et al. model of achievement-related choices. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18(4), 585-609. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1994.tb01049.x 

  • Edzie, R. L. (2014). Exploring the factors that influence and motivate female students to enroll and persist in collegiate STEM degree programs: A mixed methods study [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nebraska]. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1175&context=cehsedaddiss

  • Ertl, B., Luttenberger, S., & Paechter, M. (2017). The impact of gender stereotypes on the self-concept of female students in STEM subjects with an under-representation of females. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 703. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00703

  • Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1977). Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Addison-Wiley Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.2307/2065853 

  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104

  • García-Martín, J., & García-Sánchez, J. N. (2020). The effectiveness of four instructional approaches used in a MOOC promoting personal skills for success in life. Revista de Psicodidáctica (English ed.), 25(1), 36-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psicoe.2019.08.001

  • Garriott, P. O., Hultgren, K. M., & Frazier, J. (2017). STEM stereotypes and high school students’ math/science career goals. Journal of Career Assessment, 25(4), 585-600. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072716665825

  • Goy, S. C., Wong, Y. L., Low, W. Y., Noor, S. N. M., Fazli-Khalaf, Z., Onyeneho, N., Daniel, E., Azizan, S., Hasbullah, M., & GinikaUzoigwe, A. (2018). Swimming against the tide in STEM education and gender equality: A problem of recruitment or retention in Malaysia. Studies in Higher Education, 43(11), 1793-1809. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2016.1277383 

  • Greenfield, T. A. (1996). Gender, ethnicity, science achievement, and attitudes. Journal of Research in Science Teaching: The Official Journal of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, 33(8), 901-933. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1098-2736(199610)33:8<901::aid-tea5>3.0.co;2-# 

  • Gunderson, E. A., Ramirez, G., Levine, S. C., & Beilock, S. L. (2012). The role of parents and teachers in the development of gender-related math attitudes. Sex roles, 66(3), 153-166.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9996-2 

  • Halim, L., Rahman, N. A., Ramli, N. A. M., & Mohtar, L. E. (2018). Influence of students’ STEM self-efficacy on STEM and physics career choice. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1923(1), 020001. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5019490 

  • Hardin, E. E., & Longhurst, M. O. (2016). Understanding the gender gap: Social cognitive changes during an introductory stem course. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(2), 233. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000119 

  • Henseler, J., Hubona, G., & Ray, P. A. (2016). Using PLS path modeling in new technology research: Updated guidelines. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(1), 2-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/imds-09-2015-0382 

  • Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing. Advances in International Marketing, 20(1), 277-319. https://doi.org/10.1108/s1474-7979(2009)0000020014 

  • Honey, M., Pearson, G., & Schweingruber, H. (Eds). (2014). STEM integration in K-12 education: Status, prospects, and an agenda for research. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/18612 

  • Husain, U. K. (2014, December 10-11). Relationship between self-efficacy and academic motivation. International Conference on Economics, Education and Humanities (ICEEH’14), Bali, Indonesia.  https://dx.doi.org/10.15242/ICEHM.ED1214132 

  • Jenson, R. J., Petri, A. N., Day, A. D., Truman, K. Z., & Duffy, K. (2011). Perceptions of self-efficacy among STEM students with disabilities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 24(4), 269-283.

  • Kamsi, N. S., Firdaus, R. R., Razak, F. D. A., & Siregar, M. R. (2019). Realizing Industry 4.0 through STEM education: But why STEM is not preferred? IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 506(1), 012005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/506/1/012005 

  • Kinzie, M. B., & Delcourt, M. A. (1991, April 3-7). Computer technologies in teacher education: The measurement of attitudes and self-efficacy [Paper presentation]. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, USA.

  • Kulm, G. (1973, February 25 - March 1). A mathematics self-concept test. American Educational Research Association Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

  • Larose, S., Ratelle, C. F., Guay, F., Senécal, C., & Harvey, M. (2006). Trajectories of science self-efficacy beliefs during the college transition and academic and vocational adjustment in science and technology programs. Educational Research and Evaluation, 12(4), 373-393. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803610600765836 

  • Lavy, V., & Sand, E. (2015). On the origins of gender human capital gaps: Short- and long-term consequences of teachers’ stereotypical biases. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w20909 

  • Leinhardt, G., Seewald, A. M., & Engel, M. (1979). Learning what’s taught: Sex differences in instruction. Journal of Educational Psychology, 71(4), 432-439. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.71.4.432 

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45(1), 79-122. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (2002). Social cognitive career theory. In Career choice and development (4th ed., pp. 255-311). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  • Lent, R. W., Miller, M. J., Smith, P. E., Watford, B. A., Hui, K., & Lim, R. H. (2015). Social cognitive model of adjustment to engineering majors: Longitudinal test across gender and race/ethnicity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 77-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.11.004 

  • Maddux, J. E., Sherer, M., & Rogers, R. W. (1982). Self-efficacy expectancy and outcome expectancy: Their relationship and their effects on behavioral intentions. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 6(2), 207-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01183893 

  • Mahoney, M. P. (2010). Students’ attitudes toward STEM: Development of an instrument for high school STEM-based programs. Journal of Technology Studies, 36(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.21061/jots.v36i1.a.4 

  • Marsh, H. W., & Scalas, L. F. (2011). Self-concept in learning: Reciprocal effects model between academic self-concept and academic achievement. Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning. In International Encyclopedia of Education (pp. 660-667). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-044894-7.00619-9

  • Martinez, A., & Christnacht, C., (2021, January). Women making gains in STEM occupations but still underrepresented. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/01/women-making-gains-in-stem-occupations-but-still-underrepresented.html#:~:text=Women%20Are%20Nearly%20Half%20of,Only%2027%25%20of%20STEM%20Workers&text=Despite%20making%20up%20nearly%20half,and%20math%20(STEM)%20workforce

  • Maryann, N., & Patience, A. C. (2017). Investigating factors influencing girls participation in science and technology education in Nigeria. Journal of Research & Method in Education, 7(3), 50-54. https://doi.org/10.9790/7388-0703035054

  • McGuire, L., Mulvey, K. L., Goff, E., Irvin, M. J., Winterbottom, M., Fields, G. E., Hartstone-Rose, A., & Rutland, A. (2020). STEM gender stereotypes from early childhood through adolescence at informal science centers. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 67, 101109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101109 

  • Meng, C. C., Idris, N., & Eu, L. K. (2014). Secondary students’ perceptions of assessments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 10(3), 219-227. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1070a 

  • Moore, R., & Burrus, J. (2019). Predicting STEM major and career intentions with the Theory of Planned Behavior. The Career Development Quarterly, 67(2), 139-155. https://doi.org/10.1002/cdq.12177

  • Mulvey, K. L., Hitti, A., & Killen, M. (2010). The development of stereotyping and exclusion. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 1(4), 597-606. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.66 

  • Noor, N. M. (2001). Work, family and well-being: Challenges of contemporary Malaysian women. IIUM Press.

  • Nugent, G., Barker, B., Welch, G., Grandgenett, N., Wu, C., & Nelson, C. (2015). A model of factors contributing to STEM learning and career orientation. International Journal of Science Education, 37(7), 1067-1088. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2015.1017863 

  • O’Brien, L. T., Garcia, D. M., Blodorn, A., Adams, G., Hammer, E., & Gravelin, C. (2020). An educational intervention to improve women’s academic STEM outcomes: Divergent effects on well-represented vs. underrepresented minority women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 26(2), 163-168. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000289 

  • OECD. (2015). The ABC of gender equality in education: Aptitude, behaviour, confidence. OECD Publishing.

  • Osborne, J., Simon, S., & Collins, S. (2003). Attitudes towards science: A review of the literature and its implications. International Journal of Science Education, 25(9), 1049-1079. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950069032000032199 

  • Pajares, F. (2004). Gender differences in mathematics self-efficacy beliefs. In A. M. Gallagher & J. C. Kaufman (Eds.), Gender differences in mathematics: An integrative psychological approach (pp. 294-315). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511614446.015 

  • Pang, V., Mun, H. C., & Ompok, C. C. (2015, September 21-23). Early mathematics achievement of children in national government preschool in Tuaran District, Sabah: Do gender, types of preschool and duration in preschool matter? 1st Borneo International Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, Sabah, Malaysia.

  • Papanastasiou, E. C., & Zembylas, M. (2002). The effect of attitudes on science achievement: A study conducted among high school pupils in Cyprus. International Review of Education, 48(6), 469-484.

  • Rabenberg, T. A. (2013). Middle school girls’ STEM education: Using teacher influences, parent encouragement, peer influences, and self efficacy to predict confidence and interest in math and science [Doctoral dissertation, Drake University]. https://escholarshare.drake.edu/bitstream/handle/2092/2020/2013TARdd.pdf?seq

  • Rajenderan, M., & Zawawi, D. (2019). Leaky pipeline syndrome in information and communication technology (ICT) industry of Malaysia: A conceptual study on female career barriers and retention management. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(2), 1158-1174. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i2/5672 

  • Ramsey, C. M. (2018). STEM stories for STEM interest and identity for girls: A classroom-tested framework and prototype [Doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin]. https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/72750

  • Renno, M. P., & Shutts, K. (2015). Children’s social category-based giving and its correlates: Expectations and preferences. Developmental Psychology, 51(4), 533-543. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038819 

  • Riegle-Crumb, C., Moore, C., & Ramos-Wada, A. (2011). Who wants to have a career in science or math? Exploring adolescents’ future aspirations by gender and race/ethnicity. Science Education, 95(3), 458-476. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20431 

  • Rittmayer, A. D., & Beier, M. E. (2008). Overview: Self-efficacy in STEM. SWE-AWE CASEE Overviews, 1-12.

  • Ruble, D. N., Martin, C. L., & Berenbaum, S. A. (2007). Gender development. In Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0314 

  • Sahranavard, M., & Hassan, S. (2012). The relationship between self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem, anxiety and science performance among Iranian students. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, 12(9), 1190-1196.

  • Sajid, S., Alam, M. S., Kok, J. K., & Rehman, M. (2020). Women’s participation in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education: A review of literature. Asia Proceedings of Social Sciences, 6(3), 230-234.

  • Salleh, S.M. (2013). Factors Influencing Students’ Intentions to Study Science in Upper Secondary. International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education, 4, 1158-1165. https://doi.org/10.20533/ijcdse.2042.6364.2013.0163 

  • Schuster, C., & Martiny, S. E. (2017). Not feeling good in STEM: Effects of stereotype activation and anticipated effect on women’s career aspirations. Sex Roles, 76(1-2), 40-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-016-0665-3 

  • Springer, S. H., Larson, L. M., Tilley, B. P., Gasser, C. E., & Quinn, A. C. (2001, August 24-28). The development of an educational and career outcome expectancy scale (Paper presentation). Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, USA.

  • Swarat, S., Ortony, A., & Revelle, W. (2012). Activity matters: Understanding student interest in school science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 49(4), 515-537. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21010 

  • The Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia. (2014). Women in science and technology in Asia. http://aassa.asia/achievements/achievements.php?bbs_data=aWR4PTgwJnN0YXJ0UGFnZT0wJmxpc3RObz0mdGFibGU9Y3NfYmJzX2RhdGEmY29kZT1hY2hpZXZlbWVudCZzZWFyY2hfaXRlbT0mc2VhcmNoX29yZGVyPQ==%7C%7C&bgu=view

  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2017). Cracking the code: Girls’ and women’s education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0025/002505/250567e.pdf

  • Wang, M. T., & Eccles, J. S. (2012). Social support matters: Longitudinal effects of social support on three dimensions of school engagement from middle to high school. Child Development, 83(3), 877-895. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01745.x 

  • Yeoh, M. P., & Ierardi, E. (2015). Motivation and achievement of Malaysian students in studying matriculation Biology. International Journal of Advanced Research, 3(11), 966-978.

ISSN 0128-7680

e-ISSN 2231-8526

Article ID

JSSH-7004-2020

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Recent Articles