Unraveling Belonging Uncertainty: Investigating Student Perspectives on STEM Education

Camila Senespleda, Zamira Torres, Keila Muller, Tamra Legron-Rodriguez

University of Central Florida

Understanding the factors contributing to declining interest and student attrition in STEM courses is of paramount importance amidst the increasing demand for scientists. Recent studies have highlighted the significance of students' sense of belonging and belonging uncertainty as critical indicators of performance and persistence in STEM fields. Sense of belonging refers to a student's perception of connectedness and community within their academic environment, influencing their willingness to seek assistance and engage actively in coursework. Conversely, students lacking a sense of community experience belonging uncertainty, characterized by a lack of confidence in their fit within their academic setting. This ongoing study investigates belonging uncertainty across various student demographics at a large, public, Hispanic-Serving Institution. The study utilizes a survey instrument comprising seven, six-point Likert scale questions. Question seven includes a free-response option to shed light on students' perceptions of peer similarity. Through these methods, the study captures student voices regarding their sense of belonging and belonging uncertainty. Demographic information volunteered at the end of the survey helped provide additional insight into the basic similarities of particularly affected students. Preliminary analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in belonging uncertainty between students who identified as men and students who identified as women, with men exhibiting lower levels of belonging uncertainty. This portion of the study integrates quantitative data, used to compute, and understand belonging uncertainty scores, with qualitative insights gleaned from free-response explanations. This research underscores the importance of nurturing a sense of belonging within STEM education. Especially among underrepresented groups, fostering inclusivity is crucial to bolstering student perseverance. By identifying and addressing factors contributing to belonging uncertainty, educators and institutions can lay the groundwork for meaningful educational reform aimed at creating more equitable and supportive learning environments.