2008 Woodie Awards
Literature and communications program involved in Harvard study
edited by Sheeraz
Kate Freed
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Campus News
- Page 1 of 1
Within the College of Arts and Letters, the program in Literature and Communications is taking part I in Harvard University's Persistence Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE) project. The Science Education Department at Harvard recently received a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study the "variables that encourage of impede women's entry into careers in science."
Many high school students experience in-class and extra-curricular activities aimed at increasing female interest in the fields of science and engineering. However it has been determined that a critical transition point exists between high school and college when disproportionately more women decide to step abandon their initial interest in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
The PRISE study will survey 4,000 college freshman at 20 institutions over the course of three years. The surveys collect and analyze data concerning high school exposure to a variety of activities and clubs to identify predictors of interest in science and engineering, while equalizing demographic differences.
As a part of the study, all 100-level Literature and Communications courses will administer a survey to their first year students. However Some 100-level courses administered it to both first and second year students. Although administered during the first year of college, the results of the study will be used to redesign high school mathematics, science, and engineering experiences to increase female persistence in these fields.
Many high school students experience in-class and extra-curricular activities aimed at increasing female interest in the fields of science and engineering. However it has been determined that a critical transition point exists between high school and college when disproportionately more women decide to step abandon their initial interest in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
The PRISE study will survey 4,000 college freshman at 20 institutions over the course of three years. The surveys collect and analyze data concerning high school exposure to a variety of activities and clubs to identify predictors of interest in science and engineering, while equalizing demographic differences.
As a part of the study, all 100-level Literature and Communications courses will administer a survey to their first year students. However Some 100-level courses administered it to both first and second year students. Although administered during the first year of college, the results of the study will be used to redesign high school mathematics, science, and engineering experiences to increase female persistence in these fields.