Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
This is a mixed methods data collection. The primary purpose of this study was to examine patterns of participation in post-compulsory science and science-related programmes. The data held at the UK Data Archive comprises a set of semi-structured interviews (13 individual interviews and one focus group interview) conducted with undergraduates in various disciplines, and a quantitative survey of the higher education (HE) experience of undergraduate scientists and the reasons they give for choosing, or not choosing, to follow a career in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. The research project sought to address three broad research questions:What are the long-term patterns of participation in post-compulsory science and science-related courses in the UK?To what extent does the undergraduate experience influence students’ decisions to pursue a career in science?What happens to science graduates once they leave HE?These three questions constitute the study’s three main phases. Phase 1 considered the period up to the start of HE and looked at patterns of participation in the pure sciences at A-level and at applications and admissions to university programmes. Phase 2 included the survey of undergraduate science and non-science students and Phase 3 looked at what happens to science graduates once they leave HE. The project also made use of pre-existing data: aggregate data was retrieved from examination boards and government and publicly accessible datasets retrieved from the UK University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Further information may be found on the ESRC Who is studying science? An analysis of patterns in the recruitment, training and employment of scientists award webpage.
Main Topics:
Topics covered include experiences during the sixth form and the last years of school; attitudes to courses, coursework, the degree subject chosen and experiences at university; aspirations for the future and careers/employment chosen.
One-stage cluster sample
Face-to-face interview
Telephone interview
Self-completion
Focus group
