1. Empirical Research – An Overview Jim Ridgway Durham University Jim.ridgway@durham.ac.uk

2. Research Ambitions: To understand Women’s under-representation in STEM Socio-cultural factors Pedagogical factors Impact of the digital divide Processes of decision making

3. Women’s under-representation in STEM: Suggesting Remedies Pedagogy Policy

4. Research Spine Interview policy makers Examine national data on performance Survey attitudes towards mathematics and subject choice in post-compulsory education –At school –At university

5. Research Spine (cont.) Interview high attaining students in post- compulsory education about their choices regarding mathematics –At school –At university Interview mathematics teachers Interview university mathematics lectures Interview women in the early stages of their careers, who either had or had not pursued careers in STEM

6. Policy Makers Top priorities for education are? Importance of women’s under representation in STEM? –Government monitoring and actions? Why do girls –Under perform in PISA? –Avoid STEM ? National initiatives? What should we do –Nationally? –In the EU?

7. National Data Explore the implications of current data for –Theory –Policy

8. Survey Attitudes and Things that Influence Choices of Study Enjoyment Past performance Competence using computers ‘Mathematical identities’ Long term plans Personal influences – parents, teachers, friends ‘Resilience factors’

9. Interviews I – with high performers qualified to take more maths Typical lessons, and uses of ICT Interest and enjoyment Girls’ and boys’ roles Socio-cultural questions Actions of successful and unsuccessful teachers Actions of successful and unsuccessful students

10. Interviews II – with high performers qualified to take more maths Development of mathematical identity Choices available; actually made; reasons Influences: parents, siblings, teachers, friends Long term plans What makes you good at maths and [X]? Why do you work hard at maths and [X]?

11. Interviews III – with high performers qualified to take more maths Analyses –Socio-cultural factors –Pedagogical factors –Impact of the digital divide Understanding decision making –Motivation theories –Identity theories –Ego-defence theories –Gender theories

12. Influencing Women’s under- representation in STEM Strategies to influence –Socio-cultural factors –Pedagogical factors –Impact of the digital divide Strategies to influence decision making –Motivation theories –Identity theories –Ego-defence theories –Gender theories Ambitions for PREMA: some sharing; maybe some strategic initiatives