dc.contributor.author	Pitchford, Benjamin N.
dc.coverage.spatial	North and Central America -- United States -- Georgia	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2016-08-01T15:18:56Z
dc.date.available	2016-08-01T15:18:56Z
dc.date.issued	2016-07
dc.identifier	909DBF48-7D01-4A68-A7EB-E079333DAE07
dc.identifier.citation	Benjamin N. Pitchford. "The Rural Effect: How Male and Female Students’ STEM Perceptions are Influenced by Attending a Rural Georgia High School." Dissertation. (Valdosta State University, July 2016). http://hdl.handle.net/10428/2234.
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10428/2234
dc.description.abstract	This mixed-methods study was designed to examine the perceptions of students from a rural area regarding Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and STEM careers. STEM perceptions of high school students from a rural setting were determined using the STEM Semantics Survey. Survey results were analyzed to determine the mean ratings for each of five scales (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Careers in STEM) and to determine similarities and differences in female and male STEM perceptions. Results of a MANOVA indicated that males had statistically significantly more favorable perceptions of STEM and STEM careers overall. Independent samples t-test results for each scale indicated that the significant difference in female and male STEM perceptions was driven by the large difference on the Engineering scale. Females perceived engineering significantly less positively than did males, though females did have a slightly more positive perception of the field of Mathematics than did males. College students who attended the same rural high school as the high school student participants also completed the STEM Semantics Survey. Results of the survey were used to develop interview questions for the college students. Interview data from the college students revealed strong beliefs that, because they attended a rural high school, they had fewer, less engaging, and less rigorous STEM experiences than college students they knew who had attended more urban high schools. This rural effect permeated all discussions of their STEM perceptions. Having few STEM role models in their community, limited STEM resources in their school and community, and a community that did not place a high value on STEM were mentioned by college students as influencing their perceptions of STEM and STEM careers.	en_US
dc.description.tableofcontents	I. INTRODUCTION . \| Conceptual Underpinnings for the Study ... \| Statement of the Problem ... \| Purpose of the Study .. \| Definition of Key Terms \| Chapter Summary .. 1 \| 4 \| 6 \| 8 \| 9 \| 9 \| II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE \| Research Question 1 .. \| Research Question 2 .. \| Chapter Summary .. 11 \| 18 \| 25 \| 30 \| III. METHODOLOGY \| Research Questions \| Research Design \| High School Students \| College Students \| Chapter Summary .. 31 \| 32 \| 33 \| 35 \| 39 \| 43 \| IV. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS .. \| STEM Semantics Survey ... \| College Student STEM Perceptions Interview Protocol \| Chapter Summary .. 44 \| 45 \| 54 \| 107 \| V. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION . \| Overview of the Study ... \| Review of the Literature \| Methods . \| Summary of Findings . \| Discussion of Findings ... \| Implications of Findings \| Limitations . \| Future Research . \| Conclusion . 111 \| 112 \| 113 \| 116 \| 119 \| 131 \| 150 \| 156 \| 157 \| 158 \| REFERENCES .... 161 \| APPENDIX A: Institutional Review Board Approval 172 \| APPENDIX B: School Permission .. 174 \| APPENDIX C: STEM Semantics Survey 176 \| APPENDIX D: STEM Perceptions Open-Ended Questionnaire . 178 \| APPENDIX E: College Student STEM Perceptions \| Interview Protocol ... 180 \|	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Dissertations	en_US
dc.subject	Education	en_US
dc.title	The Rural Effect: How Male and Female Students’ STEM Perceptions are Influenced by Attending a Rural Georgia High School.	en_US
dc.type	Dissertation	en_US
dc.contributor.department	Department of Curriculum, Leadership, and Technology of the Dewar College of Education and Human Services	en_US
dc.description.advisor	Martin, Ellice P.
dc.description.committee	Gibson, Nicole M.
dc.description.committee	Gerber, Brian L.
dc.description.committee	Suriel, Regina L.
dc.description.degree	Ed.D.	en_US
dc.description.major	Education	en_US