Campbell Leaper & Christy Starr

Speakers: Campbell Leaper & Christy Starr
Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz

Thursday, Jan 17th, 2019

12:30pm-1:30pm

Location: UCSC Biomed 300

leaper-headshot

Campbell Leaper

Christine Starr

Title: Helping and Hindering Undergraduate Women’s STEM Motivation: Experiences with STEM Encouragement, STEM-Related Gender Bias, and Sexual Harassment

Topic: We investigated whether women’s experiences of sexual harassment and STEM-related gender bias negatively predicted their STEM motivation (task value, competence beliefs, and perceived costs) and STEM career aspirations. We also tested whether STEM encouragement from friends and family positively predicted motivation and aspirations. To consider domain-specific effects, we also tested the predictors in relation to non-STEM motivation and career aspirations. Students' first-year GPA was controlled in all analyses. The results indicated that STEM encouragement from friends was positively related to STEM motivation and career aspirations, whereas experiences with sexual harassment from instructors and STEM-related gender bias from classmates were negatively related to STEM motivation and career aspriations.

About Campbell Leaper:

Campbell Leaper is a developmental and social psychologist who investigates gender and sexism during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (see Research link for more information). Professor Leaper advises and collaborates with graduate students in the developmental psychology program. If you are interested in applying, please send an email to Professor Leaper to see if he anticipates any openings. If so, please include a brief description of your background and research interests.

About Christy Starr:

Christy Starr is a doctoral student in graduate program in developmental psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She attained her bachelor's degree at Knox College. Mx. Starr's research focuses on STEM motivation and achievement among girls/women and other underrepresented students, as well as sexual objectification, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.