| Title: |
The Impact of an Outreach Activity on Girls' Attitudes towards STEM: An Irish Primary School Case Study |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Patrick Johnson (ORCID 0000-0001-5346-0260); Cornelia Connolly (ORCID 0000-0001-9778-5569); Kevin Johnson (ORCID 0000-0002-2116-8078); Mary Fitzpatrick; Derek T. O'Keeffe (ORCID 0000-0001-8501-2382) |
| Source: |
Issues in Educational Research. 2025 35(1):220-236. |
| Availability: |
Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc. 5/202 Coode Street, Como, Western Australia 6152, Australia. e-mail: editor@iier.org.au; Web site: http://www.iier.org.au/iier.html |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
17 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3; Primary Education |
| Descriptors: |
STEM Education; Females; Elementary School Students; Womens Education; Outreach Programs; Student Attitudes; Learner Engagement; Gender Issues; STEM Careers; Learning Activities; Positive Attitudes; Foreign Countries; Space Sciences; Grade 3 |
| Geographic Terms: |
Ireland |
| ISSN: |
0313-7155; 1837-6290 |
| Abstract: |
Research suggests that children as young as 6 years old could begin to develop a negative attitude towards the STEM disciplines and this results in disengagement and loss of interest in these areas, particularly for girls. Finding ways to address this apparent lack of interest among young students is critical as reports highlight a lack of students coming through the STEM 'pipeline' and pursuing careers in STEM. Our investigative study explored the impact of utilising a STEM outreach activity in an attempt to ascertain its impact on primary school girls' attitudes towards STEM in Ireland. A survey was used to collect data on the students' attitudes toward STEM prior to engaging with the outreach activity and then immediately upon completing the activity. Results reveal that the attitude of the students was initially positive towards STEM and remained so for the duration of the outreach activity, although there was a significant decline in their attitude towards science. This research highlights valuable insights regarding the potential benefits to students of engaging in outreach activities from an early age but also alludes to the risk of overshadowing of individual disciplines that can occur when analysing the disciplines as a combined 'meta-discipline'. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Access URL: |
https://www.iier.org.au/iier35/johnson-abs.html |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1467680 |
| Database: |
ERIC |