The effect of immigration status on physics identity and physical science career intentions Conference

Lung, F, Potvin, G, Sonnert, G et al. (2012). The effect of immigration status on physics identity and physical science career intentions . AIP Conference Proceedings, 1413 259-262. 10.1063/1.3680044

cited authors

  • Lung, F; Potvin, G; Sonnert, G; Sadler, PM

abstract

  • Using data collected from a nationally-representative sample of first-year college students, we examine how students' identity development as physics persons and their likelihood to pursue a career in physical science is predicted by differing immigrant experiences. We consider broad factors having a social, economic, or cultural nature as covariates in a propensity score model that assesses differences due to immigrant generation. Our results show that, when controlling for such factors as race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, and gender, students' physics identities and the likelihood of choosing a career in physical science are significantly higher amongst first generation students than second generation (or later) students. We conclude that physical science as a career option can be influenced by the experiences of being an immigrant and through the relationship between origin and host culture. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

publication date

  • March 1, 2012

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 259

end page

  • 262

volume

  • 1413