INFLUENCE OF PRECOLLEGE EXPERIENCE ON SELF-CONCEPT AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND ENGINEERING

摘要

Female and minority students have historically been underrepresented in the field of science, mathematics, and engineering at colleges and universities. Although a plethora of research has focused on students enrolled in 4-year colleges or universities, limited research addresses the factors that influence gender differences in community college students in science, mathematics, and engineering. Using a target population of 1,599 aspirants in science, mathematics, and engineering majors in public community colleges, this study investigates the determinants of self-concept by examining a hypothetical structural model. The findings suggest that background characteristics, high school academic performance, and attitude toward science have unique contributions to the development of self-concept amongfemale community college students. The results add to the literature by providing new theoretical constructs and the variables that predict students' self-concept.