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Exploring the influence of middle school leaders on middle school girls' interest in high school science enrollment

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Date Issued:
2009
Summary:
The purpose of this research was to explore middle school leaders' perceptions of the reasons girls' enrollment levels in science courses during high school declines and if the advice given to middle school girls may be perpetuating the diminished enrollment of girls in science courses as they move from middle school to high school. The study explored the contributions of expectancy and role theory using a qualitative method. Data analysis found that cultural influences on middle school girls' career goals emerged as a significant influence on school leaders' perceptions. Instructional methodology and cultural, gendered assumptions of women in science were found as themes in middle school leaders' perceptions that further shaped the advice to girls to enroll in high school science courses. The study provided information that clarified how middle school leaders can maintain the academic pathway for girls in science as well as recommendations for further study.
Title: Exploring the influence of middle school leaders on middle school girls' interest in high school science enrollment.
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Name(s): Kijanka, Lori.
College of Education
Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2009
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
Extent: xvii, 187 p. : ill. (some col.).
Language(s): English
Summary: The purpose of this research was to explore middle school leaders' perceptions of the reasons girls' enrollment levels in science courses during high school declines and if the advice given to middle school girls may be perpetuating the diminished enrollment of girls in science courses as they move from middle school to high school. The study explored the contributions of expectancy and role theory using a qualitative method. Data analysis found that cultural influences on middle school girls' career goals emerged as a significant influence on school leaders' perceptions. Instructional methodology and cultural, gendered assumptions of women in science were found as themes in middle school leaders' perceptions that further shaped the advice to girls to enroll in high school science courses. The study provided information that clarified how middle school leaders can maintain the academic pathway for girls in science as well as recommendations for further study.
Identifier: 321040986 (oclc), 192985 (digitool), FADT192985 (IID), fau:2976 (fedora)
Note(s): by Lori Kijanka.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009.
Includes bibliography.
Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject(s): Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
Inquiry-based learning -- United States
Science -- Study and teaching (Middle school) -- Curricula
Curriculum planning -- United States
Sex differences in education
Education -- Aims and objectives
Held by: FBoU FAUER
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/192985
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU