Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

An Empirical Study of Career Talk Incorporation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education

Jianjun Wang 1 * ,
Charles Lam 2
1 California State University, United States2 Department of Mathematics California State University, Bakersfield* Corresponding Author
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Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Volume 9, Issue 2, May 2026, pp. 15-37
OPEN ACCESS VIEWS: 29 DOWNLOADS: 19 Publication date: 15 May 2026
ABSTRACT
Guest speaker presentation is an important strategy for expanding career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, particularly for underrepresented students at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).  With support from a U.S. Department of Education grant, this study was designed to examine the merits of career talks by STEM professionals at California State University, Bakersfield.   Text analytics were conducted to extract the key features of guest speaker presentations, and survey data were gathered to assess the clarity, informativeness, and relevancy of career talks for student engagement.  The incorporation of qualitative and quantitative approaches is guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to reconfirm the guest speaker's impact on student learning for career pathway expansion.  The results demonstrate efforts to strengthen STEM career preparation at this Hispanic-Serving Institution.
KEYWORDS
Career Talk, STEM Education, Mixed Methods.
CITATION (APA)
Wang, J., & Lam, C. (2026). An Empirical Study of Career Talk Incorporation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education. Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 9(2), 15-37. https://doi.org/10.31756/jrsmte.922
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