Do Social Comparisons Matter for University Major Choices? A Longitudinal Study From a Gender Perspective

Authors

  • Luise von Keyserlingk Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education (DIPF)
  • Michael Becker Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education (DIPF) IPN — Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education at Kiel University
  • Malte Jansen Institute for Educational Quality Improvement (Institut zur Qualitätsentwicklung im Bildungswesen)

Keywords:

big-fish-little-pond effect, university major choice, gender, longitudinal data

Abstract

In Germany, male students are largely overrepresented in STEM majors at university. Gender differences in important predictors of major choices, namely self-concept and interest in math or science have been discussed to explain the gender gap in STEM. For both, self-concept and interest, social comparisons with peers are important (big-fish-little-pond effect - BFLPE). Recent findings have further shown indirect long-term BFLPEs in high school on STEM major choice at university through students’ self-concept and interest. We built on these findings and investigated if differential BFLPEs on females’ and males’ self-concepts and interests in high school could help understand gendered enrollment processes in math intensive university majors. We used a subsample (N = 2182) of a German longitudinal study and used data from two measurement points (T1: 12th grade; T2: two years after high school graduation). Results showed gender differences in math self-concept, math achievement, and enrollment in math intensive university majors. The BFLPE on self-concept, interest and university major choice did not differ between female and male students. These findings point to gender differences in the means of relevant predictors of university major choice, but to gender similarity in the underlying processes of self-concept formation and university major choice. &&&&&&&

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Published

23-04-2020

Issue

Section

Special Issue: Re-imagining who does STEM

How to Cite

Do Social Comparisons Matter for University Major Choices? A Longitudinal Study From a Gender Perspective. (2020). International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology, 12(1), 46-64. https://genderandset.open.ac.uk/index.php/genderandset/article/view/676