career goals, aspirations and perceived sources of support in stem and non-stem undergraduates hea...

Career goals, aspirations and perceived sources of support in

STEM and non-STEM undergraduates

HEA STEM Annual Learning and Teaching Conference

2014: Enhancing the STEM Student Journey

Rachel Bromnick & Ava Horowitz, University of Lincoln

Overview of our previous research

Bromnick & Horowitz (2014)

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=_OBGp6TDQztcvM&tbnid=0-_QQB2xTp9RgM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4HQ&url=http://reacareers.com/reacareers/employee-solutions/career-assessments/&ei=H879Uu_YOeek7Qb6sYEQ&psig=AFQjCNGhzOGVIQh8irpe9-KIid3sWgOgXw&ust=1392451488017812

Top 5 Most Rated Values for Psychology students

Value N %

Helping others 47 66.19

Respect 32 45.07

Achievement 32 45.07

Varied work 28 39.43

Working with others

28 39.43

3

‘Financial gain’ was not highly valued

• Ranked 27th out of 44

“...important as I would not like to constantly worry that I can’t afford the basics and my aim is to be able to live comfortably” (Female, P58)

4

Overview of Conclusions

• Psychology students not motivated by money or prestige

• Students’ values University’s values

5

New Aspirations Study

• Compare Psychology with other degrees

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=LMK4UqK1vy6ICM&tbnid=eS5_jBrEzfrQnM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4EA&url=http://archive.sciencewatch.com/inter/aut/2010/10-aug/10augRyan/&ei=rKf8UvPoEq6y7AbdroGABA&psig=AFQjCNER7NXvC0gBAmXbpUyxEBhU9c-HyA&ust=1392376108368321

What was measured?

• 30 ‘Life Goals’ (Scale = 1-7)

• How important ? • How helpful is UG degree & experience likely to be

in its future attainment ?

What was measured?

• Rated 9 sources of support on• Usefulness in determining graduate career success

e.g.• Parents• Friends• Social Media

• Stated Ideal job• How likely to attain it

Who was asked?

N= 92

N = 103

N = 200

N = 162

N = 43

F = 60%, M = 40%

Age ≈ 21 years

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=b5ztni7-v_gSBM&tbnid=om47Emom4cATmM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4Eg&url=http://cscs.medschl.cam.ac.uk/&ei=qoP8UqSWN7OI7Aay7YGwDA&psig=AFQjCNEU8DkYYeXCSLHPo96dpunQ0evR2A&ust=1392366890978346

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=qQqj6sdyXHqQ6M&tbnid=u6zBp26s9xrivM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4Fg&url=https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/psychology.htm&ei=_IP8UtaVI6vY7AayxoGIDw&psig=AFQjCNHqDDJz8TwpPxJk1v8ebS28dZL_9Q&ust=1392366972649857

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=RVtL9g1xdjt05M&tbnid=jElaVM0PIYw7nM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4Ew&url=http://www.elsevier.com/awards/by-subject&ei=RIT8UrryKcuh7AaMyoDwBQ&psig=AFQjCNGJPZAUKyEfAlMZTiHakUqtfnY_GA&ust=1392367044764327

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=PbOoBhvwyaNG5M&tbnid=8yzGReV4Q46SnM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://www.scihigh.co.uk/&ei=A4X8UqPdFpLe7AahhoFA&psig=AFQjCNEiddFWaOPeXQOZFwxZ2j-OmMkZnQ&ust=1392367235445252

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=4zxkFUZ1l79X4M&tbnid=lg_uo6iCZ_m21M:&ved=0CAgQjRw4Eg&url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/parents/2011/03/adding-value-to-school-sport.shtml&ei=hIX8UuGCN-WX7QbVt4GQCw&psig=AFQjCNHU5F6riGvWmb8pNF5JOY1hHDLpZw&ust=1392367364973342

Overview of findings

STEM v non-STEM subjects… More similar than different

Importance of Life Goals

PsychologyM

ScienceM

Social Science

M

Relationships 6.26 5.83 5.86

Personal Growth 6.06 5.78 5.78

Community 5.67 5.33 5.43

Wealth 4.81 4.77 4.84

Image 3.30 3.00 3.10

Fame 2.59 2.62 2.53

Psychology: Top 10 Life GoalsGoal

1 Able to look back on my life as meaningful & complete (M = 6.45)

Personal Growth

2 Relationships

3 Share my life with someone I love (M = 6.40) Relationships

4 Relationships

5 Choose what I do, instead of being pushed along by life (M = 6.22)

Personal Growth

6 Personal Growth

7 Grow and learn new things (M = 6.07)Personal Growth

8 Relationships

9 Have enough money to buy the things I need (M = 6.07) Wealth

10 Relationships

Degree Helpful in supporting Top 10 Life Goals

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=m021BrazNHitgM&tbnid=6g2Rmdaxu0EXZM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4HA&url=http://my.umbc.edu/news/38459&ei=kar8UuXULu7H7Aaz64HwCA&psig=AFQjCNGZ_PCbRa_GyWIQ_xXDMYzBYIc3VQ&ust=1392376849903764

Sources of Career Support

• Top 3• Parents (M = 5.51)• Internet in general (M = 5.23)• Personal contacts (M = 4.96)

• University ratings• Lecturers: Rated 4th (M = 4.92)• Careers service: Rated 7th (M = 4.35)

Ideal Job

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=PLAWZXJBEzZKoM&tbnid=MkHXcLFh0kCHEM:&ved=0CAgQjRw4Gg&url=http://www.recruiter.com/i/more-than-half-of-workers-dont-trust-their-boss-seek-new-jobs-in-2014/h-1331/&ei=54r8UrmdELGu7AbJn4HACw&psig=AFQjCNGeAEFDWxFZkHyXcH6D04RWiBSb-g&ust=1392368743332295

What does it mean?

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=8c4h_0Zs07tE5M&tbnid=yw9Z2EI0L4T-ZM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://thelinc.co.uk/2011/04/university-of-lincoln-to-charge-9000-tuition-fees/&ei=co78UqnBGYSR7AaN5IGABw&psig=AFQjCNGigwIVh3BUzikPiT-MRys3ZSp06Q&ust=1392369650473692

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=QE9hCB7YPlEAzM&tbnid=Hs6l7n6qDAnIgM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://knowingandgrowing.ning.com/&ei=yo78UvWwAovA7AaE94DwCA&psig=AFQjCNGo5TDVWQ9Yw3G1oGf6CGybbNmxGw&ust=1392369738105527

Anticipated support from parents

Models of employability?

What next?

Support or control?

Thank your for looking and listening

Any questions?

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