Making Science Make Sense

Bayer Facts of Science Education Survey

The following report is based on the findings of The Bayer Facts of Science Education XI: American Parents Speak Out About Their Children and Science survey. The Bayer Facts of Science Education XI survey, conducted by Market Research Associates, was commissioned by Bayer Corporation as part of its Making Science Make Sense program.

The decade-long Bayer Facts of Science Education survey series is an annual public opinion research project that examines various science literacy and science education issues. It is one component of Bayer's companywide Making Science Make Sense initiative that seeks to advance science literacy across the U.S. through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning, employee volunteerism and public education.

Recently, the National Science Foundation and its governing body, the National Science Board, have issued reports highlighting the ongoing problem of under-representation by women, African-Americans, Native Americans and Hispanic Americans in science and engineering (S&E) fields in the United States. In the National Science Board reports, the issue of under-representation was highlighted within the wider context of growing concerns over the U.S.'s ability to retain its global leadership status in science and technology in the face of increased competition from abroad.

This year's survey examines the long-standing issue of under-representation by women and minorities from the point of view of parents of these students. In doing so, the survey aims to measure parental awareness and concern over the under-representation of their children in the S&E pipeline; gauge their attitudes about science and engineering as viable career choices for their sons and daughters; assess their confidence in their sons' and daughters' abilities to succeed in these subjects and in S&E careers; and explore their opinions about the challenges their children face in learning science, as well as the opportunities science and engineering careers present their sons and daughters.

Results are based on a telephone poll of 1,000 American parents who have at least one male child and one female child between the ages of 5 and 18 living at home and currently in school or being home schooled. Market Research Associates used random digit dialing to ensure this sample was representative. In order to include under-represented minorities, telephone interviews with African-American, Native American and Hispanic American parents who fit the same profile were added until each of these groups contained 250 completed surveys. Here again random digit dialing was used. Findings for these parents are reported separately when they are significantly different from the national sample. A total of 1,500 interviews were conducted in March and April 2005.

The following summarizes the profile of all parents (n=1,000) interviewed.

• One-half (50 percent) of all parents had a college degree.
  
  
• Slightly more than one-third (35 percent) of all parents work in the science, engineering, research or technology industry.
  
  
• Nearly two-thirds (65%) of all parents have a total annual household income of at least $50,000.
  
  
• Although all parents had to have two children, one male and one female, between the ages of 5 and 18 living at home to participate in the survey, 19 percent of all parents interviewed had two or more girls, and 23 percent had two or more boys.
  
  
• Approximately six in 10 parents (61 percent) had children in elementary school, with a similar proportion (63 percent) in middle school. Slightly more than one-half (56 percent) had children in high school.