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STEM or not. Does the teacher determine this?

Veldhorst, S. (2017) STEM or not. Does the teacher determine this?

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Abstract:In the Netherlands there is a great demand for technical employees. For that reason, The Dutch government initiates several activities in order to stimulate students for choosing a technical study profile, study and profession. Several factors influence these choices of students. Because teachers have a great influence on students’ choices and performances, we focused on the teachers’ expectancies and advices about the capabilities of students to follow a STEM study profile. Previous research showed that the mindset of teachers effects their expectancies of students. We investigated therefore the relation between the mindset of teachers and their expectancies and advice to students about following a STEM study profile. Combining the three concepts led to the following research question: What is the mediating role of expectancies in the relation between the mindset of teachers and the advice about the study profile? Because people with a more fixed mindset are sensitive to stereotypic thinking, we examined whether the gender and ethnicity of students influenced the expectations of teachers. Quantitative data was gathered through an online survey. 38 STEM-teachers participated. Existing questionnaires were adapted to measure the mindset and effort beliefs of teachers. Fictive student scenarios were used to measure the expectancies and advices of teachers. Data analyses in SPSS showed that no significant relations were found. This means that the mindset of teachers did not influence their expectancies about students nor the advice they gave. Students’ gender and ethnicity did not appear to influence the expectancies of teachers.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology, 81 education, teaching
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/72476
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