A longitudinal study of students' attitudes towards science and choice of career

In the first part of the study I have followed 70 students from grade 5 (12y) to grade 9 (16y) to study the relationship between the students’ attitudes, understanding and ability and how and why their attitudes change during school. My focus is pupils’ reasons for choosing or not choosing science for high school. The second part of the study was done three years later just before these students left high school on their way to further studies or to working life. The results show that students have a positive attitude to science but often a more positive attitude to other subjects. As early as in grade 5 many students have an idea of their future career which later on is the same as their choice for high school and university. If science shall have a chance in their lives the students must have a positive experience of science from the beginning of elementary school through all years. Once they have lost their interest it is very diffi cult to get them back. The competition for their attention is intensive and the older they get the more diffi cult it will be to catch their interest and allegiance.