"Dimensional Comparisons of Subjective Task Values and their Associations with College Major Choice"

AERA 2018 Annual Meeting: “The Dreams, Possibilities, and Necessity of Public Education”
April 13-17, 2018
New York

Title: "Dimensional Comparisons of Subjective Task Values and their Associations with College Major Choice"
Authors: Osman Umarji, Jacquelynne Eccles, Peter McPartlan

Abstract

Subjective task values (STV) are predictive of academic choices, yet understanding how cross-domain values influence one another has not been previously studied. Dimensional comparison theory is applied to high school students’ values in math, English, biology, and physical science in 10th and 12th grade to understand the development of STVs over time. Cross-lag structural equation models reveal that Math STV negatively influences future English STV, and gender differentially influences cross domain STVs. Math STV positively influences Physical science STV for males, and Biology STV positively influences Math STV for Females. Cross domain STVs also influenced choice of college major. English STV was negatively associated with math intensive majors, but Physical science was positively related to such majors.