Terry Lyons
The Puzzle of Falling Enrolments in Physics and Chemistry Courses: Putting Some Pieces Together
University of New England
paper reports discusses principal findings australian study exploring decisions high achieving year 10 students taking physics chemistry courses lyons 2003 study used multiple worlds framework explore diverse background characteristics previous quantitative research shown implicated decisions based analyses questionnaire interview data study found students decisions involved complex negotiation number cultural characteristics within school science family worlds many students regarded junior high school science irrelevant uninteresting difficult leaving intrinsic reasons enrolling senior science courses study found decisions taking physical science courses associated resources cultural social capital within families degree resources congruent advantages choosing courses paper concludes low intrinsic value school science erosion strategic value contribute reluctance students choose physical science courses senior school