An Exploration of Selected Factors and Variables of STEM Educated Black American Women: Implications of Student Loans and Other Wellness Issues
Abstract
This mixed methods study was based on a survey instrument of selected factors and variables related to the careers of STEM-educated Black American women. The study sought to obtain open-ended responses to items that may have implications as a result of student loan debt for these women with advanced degrees to include STEM disciplines of STEM-educated Black American Women with implications of student loans and wellness issues. Women hold nearly two thirds of the student loan debt. Black American Women experience different adversaries compared to other groups in America as they matriculate through college to attain higher education.The initial collection procedure utilized a web-based survey to analyze the selected factors and variables of STEM-educated Black American Women with implications of student loans and wellness issues. The research examined the selected factors from voluntary participants (N=19). Women voluntarily completed the survey during the data collection timeframe; however, one of the women identified as Latina. As a result of the importance of the voice of STEM women of color for future research, the data were analyzed and are the foundation for future recommendations to expand this study to be a representative sample of STEM-educated women (N=19) participants, of which n=18 were Black American Women and (n=1) was a Latina American Woman. The study collected student loan debt ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 to determine the spectrum of student loan debt from participants. Although there was a category for over $200,000, none reported student loan debt over $200,000.The study findings suggest that women identified for this study were particularly more vested in their career choices than concerned about the amount of debt accumulated due to pursuing advanced degrees. As a result, the need for a larger sample size that is representative of all American women with at least a bachelor’s degree in STEM should be conducted using this originally designed survey instrument—Education Journey of Black American Women (EJBAW). As a result of the selected findings, the research recommendations include the replication of this study with a larger sample size that could be analyzed by the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Labor to advance the potential for STEM-educated women in the American economy and the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics among young people in the United States.
Subject Area
Educational leadership|Education|Education finance|Womens studies
Recommended Citation
Simmons Robinson, Khanna, "An Exploration of Selected Factors and Variables of STEM Educated Black American Women: Implications of Student Loans and Other Wellness Issues" (2023). ETD Collection for Fayetteville State University. AAI30815031.
https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/dissertations/AAI30815031