Interpretive investigation of the science-related career decisions of three African-American college students

Reports published since 1977 indicate that African Americans are underrepre sented among Ph.D.-holding scientists. Although researchers have identified numerous factors that correlate with career choice, they have failed to ad dress students' reasons for choosing or not choosing science and science-re lated careers. This study examines the career decisions of three African-Am erican college students. All three students began college aspiring toward s cience-related careers. However, by the end of data collection only one stu dent was working toward a science-related career. Data were collected by me ans of eight, open-ended, 1-hour interviews conducted over a period of 6 mo nths. Findings indicate that students' interest in a science-related career is directly related to the degree to which they perceive that career as be ing supportive of deep-seated life goals; and that a deeper view of the nat ure of science better enables students to perceive a science-related career as supportive of life goals. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.