title: Predictors of intent to pursue a college health science education among high achieving minority 10thgraders.
abstract: Minority populations are underrepresented in fields of science, perhaps limiting scientific perspectives. Informed by recent studies using Social Cognitive Career Theory, this study examined whether three conceptual constructs: self-efficacy, perceived adult support, and perceptions of barriers, as well as several discrete and immutable variables, were associated with intent to pursue college science education in a sample (N = 134) of minority youth (70.1% female and 67.2% African American). A paper-and-pencil survey about pursuit of college science was administered to 10th graders with a B- or better grade point average from six high schools in an underserved community. Results indicated that the three conceptual constructs were bivariate correlates of intent to pursue college science education. Only perceived adult support and knowing whether a parent received college education were significant predictors in multivariate modeling. These results build on previous research and provide further insight into youth decision-making regarding pursuit of college science.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 2387 SPH Building, Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742.
authors.forename: Katarzyna A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zebrak
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 2387 SPH Building, Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742.
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 2387 SPH Building, Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742.
authors.forename: Bradley O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Boekeloo
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, 2387 SPH Building, Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742.
authors.forename: Min Qi
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: adult support; college education; minority; science; self-efficacy; youth