Abstract
The persistent gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) career choice represents a perplexing problem for researchers and policy makers alike. We contribute to the body of research on the gender gap in STEM careers by testing a “surplus model” of vocational interests as a predictor of STEM career choice. The model suggests that, controlling for ability, female adolescents with strong STEM-related interest should be less likely to pursue STEM careers when they also have strong interests in other areas, due to wider career options. We tested the surplus model in a large national longitudinal data set and translated the results into differences in annual wages. Our findings illuminate the predictive validity of a surplus model of interests on STEM career choice across gender, provide insight into the gender gap in STEM, and suggest opportunities for future research.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 76-97 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Journal of Career Assessment |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | Jun 8 2020 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2021 |
Keywords
- stem career choice
- stem gender gap
- surplus model
- vocational interests
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology
- General Psychology
- Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management