Modeling the impact of intrinsic coding interest on STEM career interest: evidence from senior high school students in two large Chinese cities

Abstract

The problem motivating this study is the urgent need to explore the antecedents of STEM career interest and the growing importance of coding in STEM careers, coupled with the unclear relationship between intrinsic coding interest and STEM career interest. To narrow the research gap, this study explores the direct and indirect effects of intrinsic coding interest on STEM career interest. As a quantitative cross-sectional survey research, 669 students from three senior high schools in two large Chinese cities were investigated. Applying a structural equation modeling approach, the research instrument was validated and the research hypotheses were tested. The findings articulate the direct influence of intrinsic coding interest, coding self-efficacy and perceptions of coders on STEM career interest, and detect the mediating roles of coding self-efficacy and perceptions of coders between intrinsic coding interest and STEM career interest. This study affirms a new theoretical model with strong predictive power, accounting for 64% of the variance in STEM career interest. This study contributes theoretically and practically to the limited literature on coding-related antecedents of STEM career interest.

Academic performance, family support, interest and career decision among undergraduate students in Nigeria

“…This result is similar with Xu and Lastrapes ( 2022), but it contradicts Maiorca et al (2021). It was also found that there is no significant relationship between interest and ability and the career choice of high school students (Jiang et al, 2022). Even so, a student's personal interest and ability matter in selecting a course of study at a university in order to succeed.…”

“…This finding indicates that students select a course of study because they believe it is the best fit for their interests and abilities. Interest and ability have become the most important determining factors in an individual's career decision and vocational choice (Jiang et al, 2022). According to Maiorca et al (2022), the most essential factor in choosing an institution and topic major is congruence with interests.…”

How do thinking styles and STEM attitudes have effects on computational thinking? A structural equation modeling analysis

“…Therefore, we must collect at least 900 effective responses. Based on our data collecting experience in our prior studies (e.g., Jiang et al, 2021b; Jiang et al, 2022; Jiang et al, 2023), the effective response rate is always above 75%. Hence, we determined that 1200 responses would be enough.…”

“…However, nowadays, it was found that university students' CT skills were low overall (Harangus & Katai, 2020). This may not only reduce students' effectiveness and efficiency in their study, research, and work (Hsu et al, 2018;Wing, 2008), but also may discourage students from pursuing careers related to computer science (Shute et al, 2017), or even STEM (Hava & Ünlü, 2021), and thus exacerbate the shortage of STEM professionals in the labor market (Jiang et al, 2022(Jiang et al, , 2023. Against this backdrop, for instructors, educators, and policymakers, it is vital to explore effective and feasible methods to develop university students' CT. Our findings yield at least three practical implications.…”

“…First, university students with low‐level CT skills may be discouraged from pursuing careers related to computer science (Chen et al, 2020; Shute et al, 2017), or even STEM (Hava & Ünlü, 2021). This will exacerbate the shortage of STEM professionals in the labor market (Jiang et al, 2022; Jiang et al, 2023; Pugh et al, 2021). Second, students with low‐level CT skills may not be able to solve problems or understand solutions to problems using computers (Hsu et al, 2018; Wing, 2008).…”