Table_1_Gendered Pathways Toward STEM Careers: The Incremental Roles of Work Value Profiles Above Academic Task Values.DOCX

Drawing on Eccles' expectancy-value model of achievement-related choices, we examined how work values predict individual and gender differences in sciences, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) participations in early adulthood (ages of 25/27, 6 or 8 years after postsecondary school), controlling for subjective task values attached to academic subjects in late adolescence (11th grade, age 18). The study examined 1,259 Finnish participants using a person-oriented approach. Results showed that: (a) we could identify four profile groups based on five core work values (society, family, monetary, career prospects, and working with people); (b) work-value profiles predicted young adults actual STEM participation in two fields: math-intensive and life science occupations above and beyond academic task values (e.g., math/science) and background information; (c) work-value profiles also differentiate between those who entered support- vs. professional-level STEM jobs; and (d) gender differences in work value profiles partially explained the differential representation of women across STEM sub-disciplines and the overall underrepresentation of women in STEM fields.

本研究依托埃克尔斯（Eccles）的成就相关选择期望价值模型，探究工作价值观如何预测成年早期（高等教育毕业后6至8年，年龄为25/27岁）个体在科学、技术、工程与数学（STEM）领域的参与情况及相关性别差异，并控制了青少年晚期（11年级，18岁）阶段学术科目的主观任务价值。本研究采用个体取向研究方法，对1259名芬兰受试者进行了调研。结果显示：（1）基于五大核心工作价值观（社会贡献、家庭需求、物质回报、职业前景及人际协作），可识别出四类群体画像；（2）在控制学术任务价值（如数学/科学学科）与背景信息的前提下，工作价值观画像能够显著预测年轻成年人在两大STEM领域的实际参与情况，即数学密集型职业与生命科学类职业；（3）工作价值观画像还可区分进入支持性岗位与专业级STEM岗位的人群；（4）工作价值观画像中的性别差异，能够部分解释STEM各细分学科中女性占比不均，以及整体STEM领域女性代表性不足的现象。