Gender, self-efficacy and attrition from STEM programmes

Evidence from Danish survey and registry data

Bibliographic Data

ID4097797
AuthorsJens Vognstoft Pedersen (University of Copenhagen, corresponding author), Mathias Wullum Nielsen (0000-0001-8759-7150, University of Copenhagen)
Year2024
Volume49
Issue1
Pages47-61
Publication date2024-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03075079.2023.2220702
OpenAlexW4380049786
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited65

The persistent gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is often attributed to differences in students’ confidence in their own academic abilities (i.e. self-efficacy). Yet, the role of self-efficacy in mediating gender differences in STEM attrition is unclear. To address this issue, we analyse administrative register data and representative survey responses from two cohorts of students (N = 14,427) who entered higher education programmes in 2017 and 2019. In linear models that adjust for high-school performance, parents’ education level and other relevant background variables, we find that women have lower average self-efficacy levels than men before entering higher education. This gender gap is not specific to STEM fields but also exists in the humanities and social sciences. Although women have higher dropout rates than men in some, but not all STEM areas (most notably in mathematics and physics), self-efficacy differences do not explain this gap, suggesting that factors beyond prior achievements, sociodemographic background and confidence in one’s own abilities perpetuate gender disparities in STEM attrition

Attrition · Danish · Demographic economics · Gender gap · Higher education · Medical education · Political science · Self-efficacy · Sociology · Survey data collection · Career Development and Diversity · Demography · Education, Achievement, and Giftedness · Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology