Gender differences in STEM Interest, Credits earned, and NAEP Performance in the 12th Grade

Abstract
Cunningham and Sparks describe that there are still gender differences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, which affects women not to pursue their careers in these areas. They use data from high school students' grades on science and mathematics and compare that of girls to that of boys. This reading mainly focuses on three different questions. First, "Among 2009 high school graduates, how does interest in mathematics and science differ by gender?" This discovers that there is about 6 percent difference between males and females. Second, "Among 2009 high school graduates, how does earning credit in STEM courses differ by gender?" Data on this question reveals that women earned more credits for algebra II, precalculus, and health science/technologies than males whereas more percentage of males took physics, engineering, and computer/information science than that of females. Lastly, "Among 2009 high school graduates, how do the NAEP mathematics and science scale scores of students who earned credits in STEM courses differ by gender?" This reading found out that males definitely outperformed in STEM. 
Key Concepts
STEM: it includes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. More specifically, it includes natural sciences and biological/agricultural sciences, computer/information sciences.
NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress): the largest institution conducting assessment on how American students do and what they know in various areas of subjects.
Examples
Key findings that shows gender difference in STEM fields was found in a research done in 2009.
* Lower percentage of female students like mathematics than male students by 6 percentage difference.
* According to NAEP, male students generally got higher average scores on mathematics and science.
Keywords
Gender
STEM
Science
Further Readings
Do Women Earn Less Than Men in STEM Fields?
This article explains that there is gender inequity in STEM fields thus women get paid less than men.
STEM Fields And The Gender Gap: Where Are The Women?
It reveals that the gender gap in STEM areas still exist due to societal prejudice towards women working in STEM fields and societal structure that discourages girls to pursue their careers in STEM. Also, it suggests solutions for gender gap in STEM along with the causes.
Category:Education
Category:Gender
Category:Women
Category:STEM