A Cross Sectional Study Of Engineering Self Efficacy

This is a quantitative study examining differences in 253 freshmen engineering majors’ selfefficacy, ability to cope, and engineering outcome expectations by gender, ethnicity, engineering specialty, participation in freshmen interest groups [FIGS], and participation in undergraduate engineering organizations. All of the participants in the study were first-time freshmen and were enrolled in an introductory engineering course during the fall semester of 2007. This study was performed at a large research extensive Midwestern university. Men in the study showed statically significant higher engineering career outcome expectations and statistically significant higher abilities to cope than women. Women who were in undergraduate engineering organizations and women who were in undergraduate freshmen interests groups [FIGS] showed statistically significant higher engineering career outcome expectations than women who were did not participate in these programs.