Browsing by Subject "Gender differences"

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Are sociocultural factors important for studying a science university major?
(2015) Grossmann, Volker; Osikominu, Aderonke; Osterfeld, Marius
This paper examines the role of the sociocultural background of students for choosing STEM fields in university. We combine rich survey data on university graduates in Switzerland with municipality level information from the census as well as nationwide elections and referenda to characterize a students home environment with respect to religious and political attitudes towards gender equality and science-related issues. Our empirical estimates are based on a structural Roy model which accounts for differences in costs (relative distance to the next technical university) and earnings across majors as well as for selection bias. Our findings suggest that male students from conservative municipalities are more likely to study a STEM field, whereas the sociocultural background plays little role for the major choice of females.
Die Bedeutung beruflicher Interessen und kognitiver Fähigkeiten für die Studien- und Berufswahl
(2012) Päßler, Katja; Schuler, Heinz
Educational and vocational choices demonstrate one of the most important developmental tasks in adolescence and early adulthood. Most adolescents experience difficulties and uncertainties making those choices. To successfully accomplish these important developmental tasks theories of vocational choice highlight the importance of vocational interests and cognitive abilities. This paper presents three studies that firstly analyze the relationship between interest and ability profiles, secondly investigate how vocational interests and cognitive abilities determine vocational choices, and lastly examine reasons why women and men differ in their educational and vocational choices. Implications for career counseling are discussed.