Understanding the gender differences in factors affecting the decision to study engineering t MIT

Abstract

The National Science Foundation has found that the percentage of women studying engineering has stabilized, indicating a need to find methods to encourage women to become engineers. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that women who choose engineering indicate were important to their choice and determine which factors are more appealing to women than men. In order to identify these factors, an electronic survey was developed to collect information from the current MIT student population. Analysis of the survey data identified a series of factors ranging from mentorship to academic confidence that differed between women more than men. By identifying and understanding the implications of these factors, we hope to help establish new programs to encourage more women to study engineering.