Motivation of young people for studying SET. The gender perspective

The paper will report about the idea, aim and concept of the European Commission project MOTIVATION starting 2008 and lasting two years. This coordination action will compile an exchange between the partner countries 1 (Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden) about different factors, which influence the image of sciences and technology. Young people often have obsolete and unattractive job images in their minds and peer groups, teachers and media are influencing this image in their function as socialisation agents. First, content analysis of media as socialisation instances will be done; results will be exchanged and analysed for demonstration how, for example, gender stereotypes in science and technology are represented in TV and in magazines . Second, focus group discussions with young people will give information about possible peer group influence. Third, interviews with teachers will give information about their perceived influence on the attitudes of teenagers. Fourth, teachers’ study and job consultants ’ attitudes will be exchanged. Fifth, chances for changing attitudes and examples of good practice will be described in qualitative case studies. Sixth results of case studies and evaluations will lead in developing and designing a website as recommended main action.