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Tightening the Leaky Pipeline(s): The Role of Beliefs About Ability in STEM Major Choice

Derek Rury

To study beliefs about ability and STEM major choice, I conduct a field experiment where I provide students with information that they are above average in their top fields of study. I find that STEM students are more likely to switch out of their major and that non-STEM students fail to switch into STEM at the same rates as other fields. I also find that learning you are above average in your top field of study increases STEM major choice by almost a third, as STEM students appear more like to persist and non-STEM students increase their switching into STEM fields.

Keywords
STEM, Beliefs, Human Capital
Education level
Post-secondary education
Topics
Pathways to and Through Postsecondary
Tags
Higher education
Download 01/2022
Document Object Identifier (DOI)
10.26300/pdtz-th39
EdWorkingPaper suggested citation:
Rury, Derek. (). Tightening the Leaky Pipeline(s): The Role of Beliefs About Ability in STEM Major Choice. (EdWorkingPaper: -509). Retrieved from Annenberg Institute at Brown University: https://doi.org/10.26300/pdtz-th39

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