Gender Differences in STEM Career Development in Postsecondary Vocational-Technical Education. A Social Cognitive Career Theory Test
- 4 May 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Career Development
- Vol. 50 (2), 255-272
- https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453221086979
Abstract
Existing inequalities in STEM-related vocational-technical education (VTE) programs are more prevalent than within 4-year programs. Situated in Chile, this study tests whether Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) adequately explains career development among students enrolled in STEM-VTE programs. In doing so, it also examines how external factors such as supports, barriers, and secondary track differentially affect career development by gender. Using a sample of 698 students in their second year of STEM-VTE studies, we confirmed that the SCCT model produced a good fit for the data in this alternative institutional setting. The findings also showed few gender differences in the effects of external factors on self-efficacy and career expectations, except for teaching support that substantially alters these cognitive factors to more extent among males than females. Moreover, although self-efficacy beliefs were similar between gender, gains in career expectations due to these beliefs are lower for female students. We conclude by discussing implications for future research and practice.Keywords
Funding Information
- NID/FONDECYT (1210296)
- ANID/FONDAP (15130009)
- FONIDE/Mineduc (FON1900094)
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