A study of factors associated with science persistence in successful female baccalaureate degree recipients at Iowa State University

Abstract

To identify and characterize reasons why successful females in science fail to persist in science beyond the baccalaureate degree 185 Purpose 3: To identify factors nonpersisters believe could help attract more females to persist in science beyond the baccalaureate degree 196 Purpose 4: To determine the extent to which successful females in science enroll in programs of further science study after earning the baccalaureate degree 198 Purpose 5: To identify factors that were most influential in helping successful females in science to persist in science studies beyond the baccalaureate degree 203 Purpose 6: To identify factors that persisters believe make it difficult for females to be successful in graduate or professional school 209 Purpose 7: To identify experiences in graduate or professional school in science that could hinder persistence of females in science while they are enrolled in these programs 213 Purpose 8: To determine if there are any significant differences between two groups of science graduates: persisters and nonpersisters, and those graduating with distinction or not graduating with distinction, on each of six factors related to undergraduate experiences, and to determine whether persistence and GPA have a combined effect on each of these six factors 216 Purpose 9: To determine if the six factors studied in the two-way ANOVAs can be used to predict persistence in science 231 Purpose 10; To determine if there are any differences between females who pursued advanced graduate studies and females who pursued professional programs of study on the six factors related to undergraduate experiences Conclusions Research Contributions Implications and Recommendations Limitations of Research 254