– Results indicated that stereotype threat exerted a significant negative indirect effect on women’s science career choice intentions in physics but not chemistry (which was marginally nonsignificant).
– The finding of negative indirect effects of stereotype threat in both chemistry and physics classes supports the notion that threatening stereotypes are often activated very subtly in actual achievement situations.
– Although stereotype threat was not indirectly linked to SCI in chemistry, it did have a negative indirect effect on intent to engage in undergraduate research among women in chemistry labs.
– Decreased self-efficacy does not necessarily translate into a decreased likelihood of pursuing a career in science.
– Stereotype threat may not reduce women’s self-efficacy to levels that are low enough to undermine their ultimate career decisions. In other words, women may not rule out a career in science simply because their confidence has been damaged; they may simply need to engage in more research in order to make a more informed career decision.
– The physics participants in this study were much more likely to seek a career in science if they also intended to conduct undergraduate research.
– Extended exposure to scientific research appears to be an important step in the decision-making process for women contemplating science careers.