DESIGNING MODEL-BASED SOLUTIONS TO LEAKY FEMALE ENGINEERING PIPELINE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF FEMALE ENGINEER NARRATIVES

摘要

This paper describes a case study conducted to explore the two major causes of attrition in the female engineering "pipeline." These are (a) factors motivating females to enter engineering programs and (b) females' adaptability in the engineering profession. This study proposes a theoretical framework for designing better models for engineering outreach programs as well as creating female-friendly professional climates. The two major research objectives for the study are: (a) identifying factors that motivate females to become engineers and (b) determining the extent of female engineers' job adaptability. This study analyzed 123 case interviews conducted with female engineers featured on the website engineergirl.org. The majority of participants believed their strength in high school mathematics and love for problem solving led them to the engineering field. The study also found the female engineering sample adapted well to the profession, as inferred from their professional and learning goals.