Influencing factors and mechanisms of the primary and secondary school students’ science aspirations: evidence from 8501 students in China

ABSTRACT

Background

Students’ science aspirations has received much attention worldwide in recent years, and becoming an important goal of science education. Although many studies have pointed out several factors potentially influencing science aspirations, there is still a relative lack of research on the specific mechanisms at play.

Purpose

This study aims to collectively discuss the effects of science capital, learning experiences, attitudes, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations on science aspirations and the mechanisms of these five factors in predicting students’ science aspirations.

Sample

This study was conducted with 8,501 primary and secondary school students from 320 schools in China.

Design and methods

The validity of the instrument was verified through EFA and CFA. The strength of the relationships between different variables was measured through correlation analysis. Direct effect analysis was used to establish the effect of the variables on science aspirations. Mediation effect analysis was used to test a series of pathways for mechanisms of action.

Results

The developed instrument is valid. Science capital, learning experiences, self-efficacy, attitudes, and outcome expectations were able to influence science aspirations significantly and positively. The mediation between science capital and science aspirations was established, specifically as a chain mediation.

Conclusion

The development of students’ science aspirations is a gradual process that is facilitated by coordinating the combined effects of science capital, learning experiences, self-efficacy, attitudes and outcome expectations in education.

KEYWORDS:

• Science aspirations
• influencing factors
• mechanisms
• science capital

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

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

Ethics statement

This research study was approved by the Ethics committee at the University. All individuals participating in this study consented to participate and agreed that data about their provided answers in the computational environment will be anonymously collected, stored and analysed.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China [20JDSZ3056]; National Social Science Fund of China [BHA220114]; Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China [19KSC108].