Factors affecting adolescents' science career expectations in Asian and Western top-performing educational systems

• Published in: Journal of vocational behavior 2022-06, Vol.135, p.103718, Article 103718
• Main Author: Guo, Luyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; PISA; Science career expectation; STEM; Vocational choice
• ISSN: 0001-8791; 1095-9084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103718

In the digital era, the supply of science workforce determines the growth of an economic system. We compared the impacts of potential factors (gender, socioeconomic status, science achievement, motivations, and epistemic beliefs) on adolescents' science career expectations, and examined whether there were commonalities and differences across academically top-performing economies. Specifically, we contrasted Asian economies [Beijing-Shanghai-Jiangsu-Guangdong (BSJG)—China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macao, Singapore] against high-achieving or large Western countries with many science-job seekers (Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, New Zealand, UK, USA) using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 data set. Results showed: (a) Although not all Western countries excelled in science achievement in this comparison group, generally they (except Finland and Estonia) had higher instrumental motivation; and attracted more girls, students weak in science, and even low in science enjoyment to join science careers. (b) Singapore was outstanding in having many students attracted to science careers as in the Western economies and had excellent science achievement. (c) Many of the other Asian economies were strong in science, but had relatively low enjoyment, instrumental motivation, and epistemic belief in science; and had fewer adolescents attracted to science careers. Relations between students' characteristics and their career expectations in Science and Engineering, Health Service, and Information and Communications Technology categories were also examined. •The Western countries attracted more girls, students weak in science, and even low in enjoyment to choose science careers.•Singapore was both extremely strong in science and attracted many young people to science careers as the Western countries.•Many Asian economies were strong in science, but low in enjoyment, instrumental motivation, and epistemic belief in science.•Especially, those high-performing Asian economies were not successful in attracting young people to pursue science careers.•The influential factors of students' career expectations in three major science categories were also examined separately.