PERC 2020 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | The Effect of Spirituality and Religiousness on Students’ Physics Career Choice in the US |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | In order to make physics more diverse and inclusive, it is important to recognize and understand factors preventing students from pursuing physics. The effect of spiritual goals and religiousness on physics career choice is an understudied area in the physics education community, despite there being known historic tensions between religion and science in the West (e.g. the Inquisition of Galileo). Drawing on publicly accessible national survey data from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), we examine the effect of spiritual/religious goals on choosing a physics major for US freshmen college students. Our study shows that students who identify themselves as more spiritual/religious are significantly less likely to choose physics as their majors. In addition, we examine how the effect of spirituality/religiousness is different for students from underrepresented groups such as women, African American/Black students, and Hispanic students. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Session Time: | Poster Session II |
| Poster Number: | 2.H4 |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Saeed Moshfeghyeganeh Florida International University Miami, FL 33199 Phone: 3057669327 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Zahra Hazari, Florida International University |
