This study explains the development of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) interest among elementary and middle schoolchildren. The cohort longitudinal design was applied, starting with three cohorts of students—fourth (10 years), fifth (11 years), and sixth (12 years) grade—followed for three consecutive years. A total of 947 pupils responded to general and specific STEM interest measures. The results show that the level of STEM interest of children is generally low. Gender differences in STEM interest in favor of boys are apparent in all STEM areas, except science. The observed gender gaps in interest over time are constant, except for a small increase in gender difference of engineering interest. The average rate of change of STEM interest over time is mostly insignificant. Large interindividual variability of interests’ scores and slopes indicates that the level of STEM interest and its change over time are highly individualized phenomena.

本研究解释了中小学生对科学、技术、工程、数学 (STEM) 兴趣的发展。应用队列纵向设计，从三组学生开始——四年级（10 岁）、五年级（11 岁）和六年级（12 岁）——连续三年进行。共有 947 名学生对一般和特定 STEM 兴趣测量做出了回应。结果表明，儿童的STEM兴趣水平普遍较低。STEM 兴趣的性别差异在所有 STEM 领域（科学除外）都有利于男孩。随着时间的推移，观察到的兴趣性别差距是恒定的，除了工程兴趣的性别差异略有增加。STEM 兴趣随时间的平均变化率大多是微不足道的。