NSF has a ton of information on this for the U.S. population. I'm too lazy
right now to dig it up, but it is there.
On May 1, 2012, at 4:40 PM, James M. Polk wrote:
There have been some good numbers floated on recent threads, but at least for
me, they aren't enough to gain a complete (or nearly complete) picture of the
issue.
Having studied statistics, we need to know a starting point, and look for the
reductions (or increases) from that point forward. Starting in high school is
not sufficiently refined enough, as there are a lot that take advanced math
(personally I'd start with trig - because that kicked my ass - but rarely is
it its own class, so let's start with calculus 1) that don't go into
engineering. Thus, high school is probably not a good place to measure from.
Therefore, it needs to be college.
We need to know
% of class (based on year started) that is female in engineering
(do we want to start with electrical and CS to
be more applicable to our situation?)
We'll call that percent 'X'
then
%X of drops from engineering (BS) (or just elec/CS?) over the college years
before graduation?
then
%X that enter workforce after BS in Engineering (or just elec/CS?) into the
engineering field?
then
%X that start graduate school (MS) in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
%X that receive MS degree in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
%X that enter workforce after MS in Engineering (or just elec/CS?) into the
engineering field?
then
%X that start doctoral school (PhD.) in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
%X that achieve PhD. in engineering (or just elec/CS)?
then
%X that enter workforce after PhD in Engineering (or just elec/CS?) into the
engineering field?
This will likely track those that are entering the engineering workforce, and
with what level of education. From that point in the analysis - we can
attempt to track at what point there are further drops out of the engineering
workforce by women (i.e., after how many years). Or is it as simple as
problems after childbirth to reenter the workforce (for whatever reason).
As an example, if there is a significant difference from those that drop out
after their BS from those that drop out MS, then maybe something should be
done to encourage women to stay for the MS.
comments or questions?
James