Technology resources as a mediating factor in career interest development

This study examined the strength of predictive relationships between predisposition factors of middle school students to pursue science careers and student level of science career interest when web resources were used and not used regularly during science class. Predisposition factors predictive of boys' interests in science careers were their: 1) perceptions of science and, 2) perceptions of others' interest in science. These relationships were different in classrooms where web resources were and were not used. The relationship between boys' perceptions of science and science career interest was stronger for boys in classrooms where web resources were used regularly in the science classroom. The predictive relationship between boys' perceptions of others' interest in science and their own interest in science careers was weaker in classrooms where web resources were used regularly. Girls, in general were more interested in science careers when they participated in science activities outside of class and had higher perceptions of themselves growing up to be scientist. Both of these factors were stronger predictors of science career interest for girls in science classrooms that regularly used web resources. These findings suggest that the use of web resources may play an important role in strengthening or weakening the predictive nature of career determining predisposition factors and the development of science career interest in adolescents.