A Four-Domain Theoretical Model of Factors Shaping Students’ STEM Preferences
A Four-Domain Theoretical Model of Factors Shaping Students’ STEM Preferences

Summary/Abstract: Although average differences in mathematical performance between men and women are generally small or statistically insignificant, these outcomes are strongly influenced by socio-cultural factors rather than innate ability (OECD, 2020; Hyde, 2014; Else-Quest et al., 2010).This article presents a four-dimensional theoretical model of factors shaping students’ educational preferences in the context of STEM. Rather than attributing engagement in STEM solely to mathematical ability, the model emphasizes the interplay of motivational, identity-related, socio-cultural, and contextual influences—such as gender, teaching practices, and family attitudes—within which mathematical self-efficacy plays an important but not exclusive role. Particular attention is paid to the role of gender stereotypes in the perception of mathematical abilities, the influence of creative teaching strategies on interest in science and the importance of expectancy- value theory (EVT) in shaping educational decisions. The article emphasizes the need for further research on these factors, especially in the Polish educational context, where traditional beliefs about the division of gender roles in science persist.

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