Abstract
There are a growing number of careers in STEM that provide opportunities for innovators to
showcase ideas and develop technologies. Despite abundant availability in jobs and internships,
women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in these fields. Previous research has
examined agentic factors, such as self-efficacy and stereotype threat, that contribute to decreased
minority participation in STEM. However recent research has begun to question how these
individuals interact within their environments and develop beliefs that influence future goal
pursuits. Best understood through a social role theoretical framework, goal pursuits are
influenced by societal norms; these norms are manifested in gender stereotypes, which maintain
beliefs and attitudes (Eagly, Wood, & Diekman, 2000).
Extending previous research on women’s STEM interest, the current study examines the
relationship that job framing and trait compassion have on women’s pursuit of STEM related
careers (Diekman et al., 2011; Corker & Finnigan, 2013). We replicate Diekman et al., (2011)’s
Study 3, extending further work done by Corker and Finnigan (2013). In order to activate a
collaborative or independent goal, participants (N = 300 Amazon Mechanical Turk workers) will
read a daily schedule that outlines communal or independent tasks and then answer questions
regarding perceived communal goal affordances and endorsement. Participants will also answer
questions regarding personality, STEM favorability, STEM attitudes, and gender role
expectations.
The current study extends research by examining gender role expectations as a potential
moderating variable. A goal congruity framework perspective suggests that social roles influence
goal selection and fulfillment and that strongly endorsed goals influence what outcomes women
choose to pursue (Diekman & Steinberg, 2013; Diekman, Weisgram, & Belanger, 2015). It is
expected that women who strongly endorse traditional gender roles will be deterred from
pursuing STEM careers, whereas women who hold weaker gender role expectations may be
more easily influenced by reframing the goal that STEM careers afford. Thus, we expect a
significant interaction (see Figure 1). Regardless of the type of goal endorsed, if individuals
strongly adhere to traditional gender roles, we foresee that this belief will discourage them from
pursuing an apparently gender non-conforming career path in STEM.
We are in the process of getting IRB approval, but plan to begin collecting data in the next
month. Using a moderated regression, we will assess STEM favorability and attitudes by
examining the main effects of career framing, trait compassion, and gender role expectations as
well as the interaction between all three.
References
Corker, K. S. & Finnigan, K. (2013). Traits, goals, and context: Effects on STEM interest.
Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio.
Damaske, S. (2011). A “Major Career Women”? How women develop early expectations about
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Diekman, A. B., Clark, E. K., Johnston, A. M., Brown, E. R., & Steinberg, M. (2011).
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Diekman, A. B., Weisgram, E. S., & Belanger, A. L. (2015). New routes to recruiting and
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Eagly, A. H., Wood, W., & Diekman, A. B. (2000). Social role theory of sex differences and
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Figure 1