Goggles and White Lab Coats: Students’ perspectives on scientists and the continued need to challenge stereotypes

Abstract

For undergraduate students, feeling an affinity with a science community is a key factor related to interest and persistence in science. Thus, how students perceive scientists can affect their sense of belonging. In this study, we interviewed biology majors and non-science majors at two institutions, including students who were hearing and deaf, to understand their perceptions of scientists. We used a mixed methods analytic approach, including coding to classify responses and boxplots to evaluate how endorsement of both positive and negative stereotypes as well as desire for science to afford altruistic, communal opportunities may differ between student populations, including female and male students; biology majors and non-science majors; hearing and deaf students; and introductory and advanced biology majors. Findings indicate that opportunities to see altruistic and communal qualities of science may be important for female students, non-science majors, and deaf students. Interestingly, the majority of students did not assign gender to an imagined scientist. Implications for challenging stereotypes about scientists and making altruistic and communal opportunities in science more visible are discussed.