Measurement Matters, an NSF funded grant at NCSUpicture of student and professional
Measurement Matters, an NSF funded grant at NCSUpicture of student and professional
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picture of student and professional

About the Project

“Measurement Matters” is an initiative to develop new survey tools for research about stereotypes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Short-Term Objectives

  • To provide researchers with a standard survey scale (STEM Scale) that captures undergraduate students' contemporary images of science/engineering and scientists/engineers in the context of attitudes about gender and ethnic/racial diversity
  • To provide researchers with standard survey scales and subscales that are specific to fields/disciplines, if/where significant field differences exist
  • To advance a common and empirically informed national discussion about students' preconceptions and attitudes about STEM professions and professionals

Long-Term Objectives

  • Contribute to basic research on the nature and function of stereotypes in STEM fields
  • Contribute to educational research on career development and commitment
  • Contribute to curriculum innovation and evaluation efforts
  • Contribute to exploring the use of the internet in survey research.
  • Spark research on topics such as:
  • Response effects of online survey research vs. conventional survey
  • Use of the STEM Scale to assess stereotype threat in classrooms
  • Use of the STEM Scale to evaluate effects of educational interventions
  • Expansion of the STEM Scale to address stereotypes about disabilities
  • Cross-cultural and international value of the STEM Scale
  • The relationship between STEM stereotypes and persistence in major
  • The relationship between STEM stereotypes and career commitment

Plan of Work

There are four components to this initiative:

  1. Generating a standard tool to capture and assess images and attitudes about STEM
  2. Develop an online delivery system to distribute the pilot surveys and collect the data for analysis
  3. Develop capacity to use the STEM scale through the integration of graduate education with research
  4. Develop knowledge about the scale's use for dissemination to the scholarly community.