Factors affecting students' choice of science and engineering

This paper reports research which investigated the factors which affect a student's decision to choose a higher education (HE) course in one of the physical sciences or engineering. It is based on a questionnaire survey answered by 1180 18-year-old students. It investigated differences between the scientists and the non-scientists in terms of the preferred science learning activities (both in-class and extra-curricular), the factors they found encouraging and discouraging and their personality traits. It also noted different patterns between the pure scientists and the engineers, and between the different types of scientists. Significant differences were found for the timing and reasons for choice, for preferred teaching styles and for group factors which influenced students positively. The significance of home background and personality type is also demonstrated. The importance of both in-class and extracurricular activities is clearly shown.