Publication

STEM disposition surveys were completed by 364 11th and 12th grade students attending a two-year university-based residential science and mathematics academy during fall 2012. Surveys were completed by the same classes as a post test administration during spring 2013. Major findings were that first year students tended to show a decline in their dispositions pre to post while second year students showed an increase in their STEM dispositions pre to post. First year students exhibited gender differences in STEM dispositions that were typical of published male preferences, in that males had more positive dispositions than females toward engineering and technology. However, second year students nearing completion of their academy experience showed no significant differences on any of the STEM measures. Females tended to be higher than their male counterparts on interest in obtaining a STEM career.