The importance of science fiction and other STEM-related mass media in young people’s decisions to enrol in university STEM courses


Autoria(s): Lyons, Terry; Quinn, Frances
Data(s)

12/07/2014

Resumo

This paper presents Australian results from the Interests and Recruitment in Science (IRIS) study with respect to the influence of STEM-related mass media, including science fiction, on students’ decisions to enrol in university STEM courses. The study found that across the full cohort (N=2999), students tended to attribute far greater influence to science-related documentaries/channels such as Life on Earth and the Discovery Channel, etc. than to science-fiction movies or STEM-related TV dramas. Males were more inclined than females to consider science fiction/fantasy books and films and popular science books/magazines as having been important in their decisions. Students taking physics/astronomy tended to rate the importance of science fiction/fantasy books and films higher than students in other courses. The implications of these results for our understanding of influences on STEM enrolments are discussed.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/74446/

Relação

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/74446/3/74446a.pdf

Lyons, Terry & Quinn, Frances (2014) The importance of science fiction and other STEM-related mass media in young people’s decisions to enrol in university STEM courses. In STEM Education 2014 Conference, 12-15 July 2014, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Direitos

Copyright 2014 [please consult the authors]

Fonte

School of Curriculum; Faculty of Education

Palavras-Chave #130103 Higher Education #130212 Science Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy #STEM engagement #influences on STEM enrolment #science fiction #mass media
Tipo

Conference Paper