Nationwide Undergraduates' Interest in Earth Careers & Motivation
This study explores undergraduates' interest in earth-related careers and motivation to address environmental challenges. The research, supported by the NSF, utilized an Attitudinal Instrument survey to gather data on career interests, concerns about environmental issues, and demographic information from over 2,600 students. Results show a significant focus on utilizing knowledge of the Earth and environment in future careers.
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A Nationwide View of Undergraduates Interest in Earth-related Careers & Motivation to Tackle Environmental Challenges Kim Kastens Valentina Mara Margie Turrin American Geophysical Union December 2016 This work is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) collaboration between the Directorates for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and Geosciences (GEO) under grant DUE - 1125331
InTeGrate Attitudinal Instrument (IAI) Survey instrument administered online pre- and post- instruction Probes: o Career interests and college major selection o Concern about environmental issues and motivation towards sustainability behaviors o Demographics
InTeGrate Attitudinal Instrument (IAI) Sample: o 2,625 students with pre- and post-instruction surveys o 58% female o 37.1% under-represented minorities Setting: o 163 undergraduate courses o 15% in 2-year colleges o 81% in intro-level courses o Both Geo and non-Geo courses o Typically 2-3 weeks of InTeGrate content, the rest of the semester pre-existing content
Distribution of Courses with IAI Pairs Includes 168 courses from 30 states + Puerto Rico Includes 163 courses from 30 states + Puerto Rico 1-5 6-10 11- 20 21-30
Please indicate whether you have declared or intend to declare a major in each of the following areas of study. ( ) will not choose ( ) might choose ( ) will definitely or have chosen ( ) ( ) 81% of respondents were in Intro level courses
As you consider career directions after graduation, how important is it to you to do work in which you use your knowledge of the Earth and environment? Please select one number: [Likert scale 1 = not important to 7 = very important] Mean 4.6
Which of the following graphs most accurately depicts your level of interest in a career in Earth or Environmental Sciences before and after taking this course or studying this module? 27% 37% 3% 34%
How interested are you in each of the following professions? Very interested A little bit interested Definitely NOT interested Don t know enough to judge ( ) ( ) ( ) () ( ) ( )
How interested are you in each of the following professions? Very interested A little bit interested Definitely NOT interested Don t know enough to judge ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
Please indicate whether you have declared or intend to declare a major in each of the following areas of study. ( ) will not choose ( ) might choose ( ) will definitely or have chosen Change from pre-instruction to post-instruction for Environmental Science Major
Concern about environmental issues and motivation towards sustainability
As you consider employment after graduation, how important is it to you to work in an organization committed to environmentally sustainable practices (independent of the field)? Examples of environmentally sustainable practices would include minimizing energy and water use in the workplace. Please select one number: [Likert scale 1 = not important to 7 = very important] Mean 4.9
Please indicate your level of concern about each of the following potential developments on the Earth. Focus on the impact on your region in your lifetime. Intentional distractor
Please indicate your level of concern about each of the following potential developments on the Earth. Focus on the impact on your region in your lifetime.
Please indicate the extent to which you have engaged in the following activities during the past week:
Please indicate the extent to which you have engaged in the following activities during the past week: n = 1972
Please indicate the extent to which you have engaged in the following activities during the past week: Mean 7.5 Sustainable activities index is constructed by summing number of sustainable activities respondent engaged in at least once per week.
When you engage in behaviors such as those listed in the previous question, what factors or sources of information influence your decision to do so? (mark all that apply): [asked only post-instruction]
People differ in how motivated they are to take action in their personal and professional lives to create a more environmentally sustainable society. Which of the following graphs best represents your degree of motivation before and after taking this course? 33% 21% 2% 43%
As you think about your future, can you envision using what you have learned in this course to help society overcome problems of environmental degradation, natural resources limitations, or other environmental issues? () yes ( ) no X 81% of respondents Of those who checked Yes and then commented 33% 21%
As you think about your future, can you envision using what you have learned in this course to help society overcome problems of environmental degradation, natural resources limitations, or other environmental issues? ( ) yes ( ) no X 17% of respondents Of those who checked No and then commented 38% 31%
Take home thoughts An encouraging fraction of undergraduates are concerned about environmental issues and interested in Earth- related careers. Instruction is helping them decide about Earth-related majors and careers. Movement both towards and away from geo./env. major Decrease in Don t know enough to judge Participation in sustainability behaviors ranges from almost none to extremely committed. Strongest motivator towards sustainability behaviors is saving money.
Take home thoughts (2) A large majority of students can envision using what learned in their coursework to help society overcome problems of environmental degradation, etc. through personal action or professional actions Those who cannot, cite inadequate feeling of empowerment IAI survey instrument exists and could be used in your own course or project, with national comparison sample.
For more information about the InTeGrate Attitudinal Instrument, see: http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/about/iai.html or email kastens@ldeo.columbia.edu This work is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) collaboration between the Directorates for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and Geosciences (GEO) under grant DUE - 1125331
