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Article
Predicting Graduation: The Role of Mathematics/Science Self-Efficacy
Journal of Career Assessment
  • Lisa M. Larson, Iowa State University
  • Kathryn M. Pesch, Iowa State University
  • Spurty Surapaneni, Iowa State University
  • Verena S. Bonitz, Lake Forest College
  • Tsui-Feng Wu, Iowa State University
  • James D. Werbel, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Submitted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2014
DOI
10.1177/1069072714547322
Abstract

Self-efficacy in the mathematics/science domain is conceptualized as partially determining whether science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students would persist toward reaching important milestones like graduating with a bachelor’s degree. The authors conducted a longitudinal study to examine if mathematics/science self-efficacy would significantly predict graduation status 4 to 8 years later after high school academic performance and mathematics aptitude were controlled in a university sample of introductory science students. Moreover, they looked at whether mathematics/science self-efficacy would significantly predict graduation status 4 to 8 years later after first semester grade point average (GPA) was controlled in addition to prior performance and aptitude. The sample consisted of 211 university students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree and 69 university students who did not graduate with a bachelor’s degree. The authors reported that mathematics/science self-efficacy significantly predicted graduation status 4 to 8 years later after controlling for prior performance and aptitude. The addition of mathematics/science self-efficacy improved the accuracy of identifying which participants dropped out before graduation by 4.4% in this sample. When first semester GPA was included in the control variables, the incremental contribution of mathematics/science self-efficacy to the prediction of retention status was null as expected. Findings are related to theory and prior research.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article from Journal of Career Assessment 23 (2014): 399, doi: 10.1177/1069072714547322. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Lisa M. Larson, Kathryn M. Pesch, Spurty Surapaneni, Verena S. Bonitz, et al.. "Predicting Graduation: The Role of Mathematics/Science Self-Efficacy" Journal of Career Assessment Vol. 23 Iss. 3 (2014) p. 399 - 409
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lisa_larson/8/