Accidental Scientists

How Undergraduate Research in Political Science Can Help to Patch the “Leaky Pipeline” in STEM Education

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12379526
AutoresLisa Mueller (0000-0003-3524-3371, Macalester College, autor de correspondencia)
Año2023
Volumen56
Número4
Páginas506-511
Fecha de publicación2023-01-31
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPS Political Science & Politics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1049-0965 • E-ISSN: 1537-5935
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1049096522001263
OpenAlexW4318595353
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas20

Education advocates lament the “leaky pipeline” in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), whereby students—especially minorities and women—drop out of STEM at successive stages of the educational system. Defining empirical political science as a branch of STEM, this article proposes that undergraduate research in political science can help to patch this leaky pipeline and expand access to scientific skills and habits of mind. I elaborate on three rationales to support my claim: (1) political science is a relatively diverse field of STEM; (2) college primes students to think like (political) scientists; and (3) students often encounter political science research opportunities for the first time as undergraduates, presenting an opportunity for faculty to “catch” those who selected out of STEM after high school. I substantiate my arguments by drawing on enrollment data, archival documents, the theories of John Dewey, and testimonials from former undergraduate researchers. I also recommend ways for political science departments to provide a meaningful STEM education by enhancing research programs

Engineering ethics · Lament · Mathematics education · Pipeline (software · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Science education · Science, technology, society and environment education · Sociology · Academic Freedom and Politics · Computer Science · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Engineering · Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences · Law · Psychology