Finding Los Científicos Within: Latino Male Science Identity Development in the First College Semester

Abstract

Latino males are the lowest male ethnic subgroup to attain a four-year STEM college degree. This phenomenological qualitative research study used two rounds of interviews with twelve Latino male students in Central Texas to examine their first semester science experiences using a science identity framework. Findings indicate that developing a dynamic and robust creative identity and finding a science-based learning community can play important roles in a successful first semester in STEM courses.