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to see the entire research report - Rowan - Rowan University

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CHAPTER I-C<br />

THE POWRE STUDY<br />

To assess <strong>the</strong> experience of female engineering students in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rowan</strong> undergraduate<br />

program, <strong>to</strong> determine <strong>the</strong> impact of <strong>the</strong> features of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rowan</strong> program on <strong>the</strong>m, and <strong>to</strong><br />

explore <strong>the</strong> differential impact of <strong>the</strong> program on males and females, surveys were<br />

conducted, focus group interviews given, and objective data collected for each student.<br />

Interviews with faculty and administration and printed information from <strong>the</strong> College of<br />

Engineering provided greater insight in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> program and <strong>the</strong> educational<br />

climate.<br />

Surveys<br />

All <strong>Rowan</strong> students were surveyed for <strong>the</strong> study. The first full set of surveys was<br />

administered <strong>to</strong>ward <strong>the</strong> beginning of <strong>the</strong> Fall of 2000; <strong>the</strong> second full set of surveys<br />

<strong>to</strong>ward <strong>the</strong> end of Spring, 2001. The beginning of <strong>the</strong> year survey ga<strong>the</strong>red background<br />

data on family background and support, pre-college preparation both formal and extra-<br />

curricular, self-assessments of strengths and weaknesses, and learning style preferences<br />

<strong>to</strong> be used as control variables in <strong>the</strong> analysis of gender differences. It also queried<br />

attitudes <strong>to</strong>ward engineering as a field of study and as a career, self-confidence in<br />

engineering-related skills and abilities, perceptions of difficulties for women in<br />

engineering, and future plans and commitment <strong>to</strong> engineering. The end of <strong>the</strong> year<br />

survey repeated most of <strong>the</strong> questions about self-confidence in engineering related skills,<br />

satisfaction with engineering as a major and a career, perceptions of difficulties for<br />

women in engineering, and future plans and commitment <strong>to</strong> engineering. Students were<br />

asked about <strong>the</strong>ir involvement in extra-curricular activities during <strong>the</strong> course of <strong>the</strong><br />

IC-42

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