Abstract
Little is known about the factors that influence engagement for adolescents participating in informal youth science programs. This study examined longitudinal reciprocal associations between adolescents’ science engagement, interest, and growth mindset. Participants were adolescents (Mage = 15.06, SD = 1.82 years, 66.8% female) from the UK (n = 168) and the US (n = 299). A cross lagged path analysis indicated that participants’ science growth mindset at baseline was positively related to interest, and engagement at year 1, and science interest at year 1 was positively related to growth mindset at year 2. Additionally, girls had lower science growth mindsets than boys. This evidence suggests that informal programs may encourage positive STEM trajectories by fostering engagement, growth mindset and interest.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank our practitioner partners at Centre of the Cell, EdVenture, Florence Nightingale Museum, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, ThinkTank Science Museum, and Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
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A.J. developed the hypotheses, performed the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript; C.J.M. helped draft the manuscript; M.Z. helped collect the data and draft the manuscript; F.L. helped collect the data and draft the manuscript; LM helped collect the data and draft the manuscript; AJH helped collect the data and draft the manuscript; F.B. conceptualized the project and helped draft the manuscript; K.P.B. helped draft the manuscript; L.B. helped draft the manuscript; M.D. helped draft the manuscript; G.F. helped draft the manuscript; H.S. helped draft the manuscript; E.O. helped draft the manuscript; M.W. conceptualized the project and helped draft the manuscript; A.R. conceptualized the project and helped draft the manuscript; A.H.R. conceptualized the project and helped draft the manuscript; K.L.M. helped with the conceptualization of the project, data collection, analyses and drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript.
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This work was supported in the United States by the National Science Foundation [Grant Number: DRL-1831593]; and collaboratively in the United Kingdom by the Wellcome Trust [Grant Number: 206259/Z/17/Z] and the Economic and Social Research Council.
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Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of North Carolina State University and University of Exeter. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Joy, A., Mathews, C.J., Zhao, M. et al. Interest, Mindsets and Engagement: Longitudinal Relations in Science Orientations for Adolescents in Informal Science Programs. J Youth Adolescence 52, 1088–1099 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01734-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01734-5