Qualitative Research in STEM: Studies in Equity, Access, and Innovation

摘要

In Qualitative Research in STEM: Studies in Equity, Access, and Innovation (2017), the editor, Sherry Marx, set out to address two issues. The first was the problem in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Marx defined, right from the beginning, what she believes the problem is within STEM: that despite extensive funding, ethnically diverse women continue to be severely underrepresented in STEM areas (i.e. undergraduate, graduate, and in the workforce). Once she outlined this problem, she went on to introduce to the reader why there needs to be more ethnically and gender-diverse representation within STEM. She then narrowed the focus to STEM education in particular, demonstrating how this particular context can illuminate the experiences of these underrepresented individuals. The second issue she addressed was to introduce the reader to a variety of qualitative methodologies. Marx honed in on the need to use qualitative methods specifically to provide an avenue for studying STEM for underrepresented individuals. To this end, she organized the book into what she calls four different "clusters" (p. 7) based on STEM context, methodologies, and theoretical framework. Part I focused on critical social theories and ethnographies, Part II looked at different theoretical underpinnings to study STEM experiences, Part HI centered on indigenous studies and methodologies, and Part IV looked at a showcase of improving math and science education and evaluations. Each author in this edited book was asked to provide a self-reflexive section, presented after their respective studies, to showcase their state of being or their state of becoming, and their experiences within their qualitative research endeavor.