Factors that influence high school female students' intentions to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia

Article


Alam, M., Sajid, S., Kok, J., Rehman, M. and Amin, A. 2021. Factors that influence high school female students' intentions to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 29 (2), pp. 839-867. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.2.06
TypeArticle
TitleFactors that influence high school female students' intentions to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia
AuthorsAlam, M., Sajid, S., Kok, J., Rehman, M. and Amin, A.
Abstract

Despite the increase in the number of female students in education indicating a reversal in the gender gap, their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Malaysia is still a matter of concern. This study extends empirical explanations for this gender gap and identifies factors influencing high school students’ intentions to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Malaysia. The present study aims to develop a framework of female intention to pursue STEM education by examining the impact of five independent variables on STEM self-efficacy and in turn the impact of self-efficacy on intention. The independent variables include attitude towards STEM, self-concept, gender stereotype, motivation, and teacher stereotypes. The study also examines the independent and moderating impact of career outcome expectancy on the relationship between self-efficacy and intention. Data was collected from 211 secondary school female students in Forms 4 and 5, studying at eight secondary schools in two states in Malaysia. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS. The results of the study show that attitude, motivation, and career outcome expectancy are positive and are significant predictors of STEM self-efficacy, whereas gender and teacher stereotypes are the negative predictors. The results of the study also highlight that self-efficacy is a strong predictor of intention to pursue STEM education. These findings of the study would assist policymakers to develop suitable strategies to improve female participation in STEM education in Malaysia.

KeywordsFemale; intention; Malaysia; self-efficacy; STEM
Sustainable Development Goals5 Gender equality
4 Quality education
Middlesex University ThemeCreativity, Culture & Enterprise
PublisherUPM Press
JournalPertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
ISSN0128-7702
Electronic2231-8534
Publication dates
Online22 Jun 2021
Print28 Jun 2021
Publication process dates
Submitted08 Oct 2020
Accepted26 Feb 2021
Deposited09 Jan 2025
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

© Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.2.06
Web of Science identifierWOS:000674299700007
LanguageEnglish
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