title: [Self-efficacy and the gender gap as determinants of interest in a science and technology career].
abstract: Interest in a science and technology career, and determinants of such interest, were investigated. In Study 1, self-efficacy for work activities and interest in a science and technology career were assessed. Participants were undergraduate students (n = 264; 132 men, 132 women) and graduates (n = 276; 146 men, 130 women). Graduates were more interested in a science and technology career than undergraduate students, and men were more interested in a technology career than women. Moreover, self-efficacy for realistic and investigative activities was positively related with interest in such a career. In Study 2, relationships between self-efficacy for realistic and investigative activities and childhood experiences were investigated using data from undergraduates (n = 262; 132 men, 130 women) and graduates (n = 274; 141 men, 133 women). Individuals who frequently experienced daily activities, activities in nature, and activities with animals and plants in their childhood had higher self-efficacy for realistic and investigative activities. Moreover, graduates had such past experiences more frequently than undergraduates and males more frequently than females.
authors: Department of Human Science for Human, Osaka Kyoiku University, Asahigaoka, Kashiwara 582-8582, Japan. adako@cc.osaka-kyoiku.ac.jp
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Adachi
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012586:Science; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D063507:Sexism; D013672:Technology; D055815:Young Adult