Abstract:
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) report from 2015 indicates that over the last 20 years there were some declines and no increases in students taking Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Yet, this technologically advanced world is evolving more towards STEM jobs. It might be thought that students would choose disciplines, especially science and technology ones that provide stepping-stones to careers.However, not all student decisions are based on science career prospects. It is difficult to assign a single factor to such decision making. This case study, carried out in a low decile secondary school in South Auckland, aimed to understand the fundamental factors that influence such decision making among young adults in pursuing science or dropping science in their final year of high school. The study aimed to explore five salient factors that influence decision making and have been commonly mentioned in the literature. These included intrinsic interest and motivation in science, socializer influences, situational influences provided at school, career motivation, science self-concept and self-determination. The study followed a Sequential Explanatory design using a mixed methods approach. Data were gathered from a 25 items survey administered to all participating Year 13 students followed by semi-structured interviews of 5 students taking one or more subjects in science and 5 students not taking science in Year 13. Combined data sets were used to draw a conclusion to this enigma of adolescent decision making.
