Options
The motivations, career decisions, and decision-making processes of female students studying the professional doctorate in engineering
Author(s)
Date Issued
2023
ISSN
1308-1470
1694-609X
Citation
International Journal of Instruction, 2023, Vol. 16(3), pp.131-148.
Type
Peer Reviewed Journal Article
Abstract
Women in engineering represent a significant group within the profession, across
a range of fields, including oil, mechanical engineering, and biomedical
engineering. However, only a few female engineers and engineering students
decided to enter and stay in the engineering field due to social stigma and
stereotypes toward women in engineering. The purpose of this study is to
understand and investigate the motivations, career decisions, and decision-making
processes of a group of female engineers and Doctorate in Engineering (DEng)
engineering students in the American university environment. Based on the social
cognitive career and motivation theory, the research study wants to understand the
motivations, career decisions, and decision-making processes of a group of DEng
female students in the United States. The case study design with semi-structured
interviews, focus group activities, and member-checking interviews were employed
to collect data from ten participants. The results indicated that career development,
upgrade the current practice and management in engineering, and gender is not an
issue for women in engineering were categorised as the themes. The results of this
study outlined the qualitative comments about the learning motivations of female
DEng and the reasons why DEng would be their selection instead of the traditional
PhD in Engineering programme. The results also filled the gaps in the areas of
female engineering students and professionals’ motivations, career decisions, and
decision-making processes after they completed the Professional Doctorate
programme.
Loading...
Availability at HKSYU Library
