Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2022
DOI
10.1080/00220973.2020.1808944
Publication Title
Journal of Experimental Education
Volume
90
Issue
2
Pages
344-363
Abstract
The end of college is a key transition point when students prepare for the workforce or graduate school, and when competence beliefs that have been shaped throughout college play a particularly important role in decision-making processes. This study examined the roles of two competence beliefs, self-efficacy for scientific tasks and science academic self-efficacy, during the final year of college. A structural equation model was used to examine science research self-efficacy and science academic self-efficacy as predictors of post-graduation science career intentions and life satisfaction; prior achievement was also included as a predictor of competence beliefs and post-graduation outcomes. Findings indicated that both types of self-efficacy predicted career intentions and life satisfaction. To better understand the processes that contribute to gender gaps in certain science careers, gender differences in mean levels of self-efficacy and in the structural relations among the variables of interest were examined using multi-group analyses. Females reported lower academic self-efficacy, despite having similar levels of prior achievement and outcomes; structural relations also appeared to vary by gender. Results extend theoretical understanding of the roles of two distinct forms of self-efficacy and the potential mechanisms explaining gender gaps in science fields.
Rights
© 2022 Taylor and Francis.
This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in The Journal of Experimental Education on September 1, 2020, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2020.1808944.
Original Publication Citation
Robinson, K. A., Perez, T., White-Levatich, A., & Linnenbrink-Garcia, L. (2022). Gender differences and roles of two science self-efficacy beliefs in predicting post-college outcomes. Journal of Experimental Education, 90(2), 344-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2020.1808944
ORCID
0000-0002-2008-2555 (Perez)
Repository Citation
Robinson, Kristy A.; Perez, Tony; White-Levatich, Arianna; and Linnenbrink-Garcia, Lisa, "Gender Differences and Roles of Two Science Self-Efficacy Beliefs in Predicting Post-College Outcomes" (2022). STEMPS Faculty Publications. 298.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/stemps_fac_pubs/298