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Family Science Experiences’ Influence on Youths’ Achievement Value, Perceived Family Value, and Future Value of Science

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Abstract

Emerging research is documenting the critical role of a family’s resources, beliefs, and behaviours related to science as factors that influence the career choices of youth. This exploratory study examined elementary aged youth participants’ perceptions of the value of science in their future after participating in a year-long, museum-based, family science program. Treatment (n = 41) and control (n = 40) participants completed a pre- and post-survey designed to measure Science Achievement Value (related to self-efficacy and self-concept), Science Experiences, Future Science Task Value (perceived usefulness of science in the future), and Perceived Family Science Achievement Value (related to parents’ beliefs about science). There were no statistically significant differences in survey responses pre to post for the control group. However, the results showed that participation in the program may have valuable impacts on the Science Achievement Value and Science Experiences of the youth participants in the treatment group. Additionally, the program sustained the treatment group’s levels of Future Science Task Value whereas the control group saw a decline. These results suggest family science programs have the potential to positively influence the Science Achievement Value and Science Experiences of youth, factors that are associated with career aspirations.

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Fig. 1

Adapted from Wigfield and Eccles (2000)

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Data Availability

The data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Notes

  1. While children from low wealth communities were the targeted population for this study, we did not have IRB approval to collect information about socioeconomic status on the survey.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the significant contributions of the museum partners, parents, and youth who collaborated on this study.

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. DGE-1252376 as well as the National Science Foundation ITEST Grant No. 1614468.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 201 McGuire Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Megan Ennes

  2. Department of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Megan Ennes

  3. Department of STEM Education, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

    M. Gail Jones

  4. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    Katherine Chesnutt

  5. School of Education & Human Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA

    Emily Cayton

  6. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Gina M. Childers

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Correspondence to Megan Ennes.

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The research in this study was conducted with approval from the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB11948). The youth signed an assent to participate in the study and had written consent from their parents.

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Ennes, M., Jones, M.G., Chesnutt, K. et al. Family Science Experiences’ Influence on Youths’ Achievement Value, Perceived Family Value, and Future Value of Science. Res Sci Educ 53, 977–992 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-023-10116-7

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