Health care or Atom bombs? Interest profiles connected to a science career in Sweden

Authors

  • Magnus Oskarsson Mid Sweden University
  • Karl-Göran Karlsson Mid Sweden University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5617/nordina.242

Abstract

The ROSE survey explores which science topics 15-year-old students want to study. By carrying out a factor analysis on results from Sweden it was possible to describe ten interest profiles. The interest profile with the strongest connection to the students’ interest in school science consists of topics such as explosive chemicals, ABC weapons, electric shocks, atoms and molecules. Only a minority of the students has these interests, but it is this minority who appreciates school science and who chooses to study science at upper secondary school. The factor analysis also reveals large differences between genders and furthermore, that the students’ own interests govern their choice of study programme at upper secondary school.

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