Extending the strategic adaptation framework: The children of immigrants’ pursuit of postsecondary STEM education

IF 3.2 2区社会学 Q1 SOCIOLOGY

Social Science Research Pub Date : 2025-03-04 DOI:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103157

Samuel H. Fishman, Jerry Z. Park, Michael Ervin

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Abstract

The strategic adaptation framework is a popular explanation for the children of Asian American immigrants’ high participation rates in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. The present study tests if this strategic adaptation framework applies to children of immigrants across race/ethnicity. Using postsecondary transcript data (2017–2018) from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS), the analysis models the relationship between race/ethnicity and nativity with STEM credits completed among college attenders. The children of White, Black, and Asian American immigrants complete more STEM credits than later generation—children of US-born—White respondents. Later generation Black, Hispanic, and multiracial respondents complete less STEM credits than their White peers. A subsample analysis finds that these patterns are partially accounted for by adolescent beliefs that mathematics and science courses are important for their careers. However, we find no immigrant advantage in grade point average (GPA) in STEM courses relative to later generation White respondents. Rather, Black respondents—across generation—average slightly lower GPAs. These results suggest that the pursuit of STEM education is—in part—a pragmatic mobility strategy for the children of immigrants.

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扩展战略适应框架：移民子女对高等STEM教育的追求

战略适应框架是对亚裔美国移民子女在STEM（科学、技术、工程和数学）教育中的高参与率的一种流行解释。本研究测试了这种战略适应框架是否适用于不同种族/民族的移民子女。利用2009年高中纵向研究（HSLS）的高中后成绩单数据（2017-2018），分析了种族/民族和出生与大学参与者完成STEM学分之间的关系。白人、黑人和亚裔美国移民的孩子比美国出生的白人受访者的后代完成了更多的STEM学分。后来的黑人、西班牙裔和多种族受访者完成的STEM学分比他们的白人同龄人少。一项子样本分析发现，这些模式的部分原因是青少年认为数学和科学课程对他们的职业生涯很重要。然而，我们发现移民在STEM课程的平均绩点（GPA）上相对于后来的白人受访者没有优势。相反，黑人受访者——跨越几代人——平均绩点略低。这些结果表明，对移民子女来说，追求STEM教育在某种程度上是一种实用的流动性策略。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Social Science Research SOCIOLOGY-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

4.00%

发文量

审稿时长

65 days

期刊介绍： Social Science Research publishes papers devoted to quantitative social science research and methodology. The journal features articles that illustrate the use of quantitative methods in the empirical solution of substantive problems, and emphasizes those concerned with issues or methods that cut across traditional disciplinary lines. Special attention is given to methods that have been used by only one particular social science discipline, but that may have application to a broader range of areas.