skip to main content skip to footer

Precollegiate Curricula, University Characteristics, and Field Persistence Among Science Majors GREB GRE

Author(s):
Pennock-Roman, Maria
Publication Year:
1999
Report Number:
RR-99-10
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
95
Subject/Key Words:
Graduate Record Examinations Board, Student Characteristics, Females, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Scholastic Assessment Test, Data Analysis, Whites, Graduate Study, Undergraduate Study, Academic Persistence, Multiple Regression Analysis, Majors (Students), Institutional Characteristics, College Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Males

Abstract

Two transition points were studied: from intended college major as high school seniors to actual undergraduate major (Stage I), and from actual undergraduate major to intended graduate school major (Stage II). Persistence was defined as staying within the broad category of CEMP sciences. The descriptive findings showed net losses from the CEMP pool of students at both transition points and greater field switching for women both into CEMP sciences and out of CEMP sciences. The predictive findings for both transitions, using logistic regression with random coefficients, showed that student and university characteristics (entered jointly) were associated with field persistence for the majority of fields. Significant gender differences in field persistence remained for most, but not all, fields after controlling for student and university.

Read More