S&T Male and Female STEM majors: Experiences with Discrimination and Adjustment
Department
Psychological Science
Major
Psychology
Research Advisor
Montgomery, Frances H.
Advisor's Department
Psychological Science
Funding Source
Curator’s Teaching Professorship Funds
Abstract
This predictive study assessed experiences of discrimination reported by undergraduate STEM majors at S&T (with a 4:1 male to female ratio) and possible relationships with academic, social and personal adjustment as well as academic performance. Participants provided information about their sex, age, year in school, and GPA, and completed widely used measures of discrimination and adaptation to college. For females, significant relationships were found between experiences of Degradation and poorer Personal-Emotional Adjustment (r = -.55, p < .0001); and between discrimination in School/Work Settings and lower Academic Adjustment (r = -.62, p < .0001) as well as lower GPA’s (r = -.69, p < .0001). For males, experiences of discrimination in Relationships was negatively associated with poorer Social Adjustment (r = -.46, p < .001). These results found that students who thought they had been treated unfairly showed power adjustment to areas most directly related to their experiences.
Biography
Amber is a sophomore at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is a Psychology major with a minor in Writing. Amber is from a military family and has grown up moving around the country. Her future career goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and to go to back to school for her PhD in Clinical Psychology. Amber is currently a Research Assistant for Dr. Henslee and studies college student drinking. She also researched male and female STEM majors and how they dealt with discrimination and adjustment. Amber is currently the Secretary of PsyCo, which is a club for Psychology majors and other individuals wanting to learn about Psychology and be involved on campus. Her hobbies include writing, painting, and listening to music. Amber enjoys working with people and wants to continue doing so in her future career.
Research Category
Social Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Social sciences poster session, First place
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
10 Apr 2012, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
S&T Male and Female STEM majors: Experiences with Discrimination and Adjustment
Upper Atrium/Hallway
This predictive study assessed experiences of discrimination reported by undergraduate STEM majors at S&T (with a 4:1 male to female ratio) and possible relationships with academic, social and personal adjustment as well as academic performance. Participants provided information about their sex, age, year in school, and GPA, and completed widely used measures of discrimination and adaptation to college. For females, significant relationships were found between experiences of Degradation and poorer Personal-Emotional Adjustment (r = -.55, p < .0001); and between discrimination in School/Work Settings and lower Academic Adjustment (r = -.62, p < .0001) as well as lower GPA’s (r = -.69, p < .0001). For males, experiences of discrimination in Relationships was negatively associated with poorer Social Adjustment (r = -.46, p < .001). These results found that students who thought they had been treated unfairly showed power adjustment to areas most directly related to their experiences.
