Black Mathematics and Science Majors: Why So Few?

Women’s Selection of Quantitative Undergraduate Fields of Study: Direct and Indirect Influences

“…The negative direct and total effects of race indicate that for black and white women with equal measures on other variables in the model, the black women were more likely to select a quantitative field of study. This finding parallels that of Dunteman et al and supports the supposition made by Hall and Kammer (1986) that sex rather than race was the major factor in the underrepresentation of minority women in the sciences.…”

Mentors, role models, and heroes in the lives of gifted children

“…In this respect, the research on role ma~dels is similar to the literature concerning mentors and gi~fted students; nlclst of what is known about long-term effects has come fra~m retrospective studies of the lives of high achievers rather than from longitudinal research on the effects of mentor programs or the presentation of role models; in an educational setting (e.g., Eko & Brown, 1981;Scobee ck Nash, 1983). Although the presence of role models is cited in some research (Scobee & Nash, 1983;Smith & Erb, 19816) appropriate role models has also been cited (Fox, Tobin, & Brody, 1981;Hall & Post-Kammer, 1987;Schwartz, 1980;VanTassel-Baska, 1989b) as a possible reason for the underrepresentation of women and minorities in certain occupational fields, particularly math and science. Given that much of the psychological research on the process of identification asserts that perceived similarity to role models, especially in gender, affects whether or not children identify with or imitate models (Bussey & Bandura, 1984;Yando, Seitz, & Zigler, 1978), these assertions may be valid.…”

Applying the NSF broader impacts criteria to HCI research

“…For example, Margolis and Fisher found that women were five times as likely as men to cite the beneficial applications of computing as a reason for choosing a computing major [8]. Similarly, Hall and Post-Kammer found that African-Americans stay out of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields because they have a cultural orientation and expectation to help others, and do not see STEM as helping others [5]. Because of the clear societal impacts of much CHI research, we are well-positioned to recruit and retain women, under-represented minorities, and people with disabilities in computing.…”