Geoscience Academic Provenance - Geoscience 'Pipeline' vs 'Pathway' Model

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Date updated: 2011-06-29
Data Brief 2011-005
Written and compiled by Heather R. Houlton for AGI, June 2011

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Recruitment and retention discussions about the 'pipeline model' have been circulating through the STEM community for years, with a primary focus on attrition rates (termed 'leaks'). However, the pipeline model is not conducive for understanding variations in students’ experiences, behaviors and decisions when pursuing their academic and professional careers. Houlton (2010) developed a 'pathway model' which identified reasons why students decided to pursue the major and may explain attrition rates in the geoscience discipline.

This model explicitly maps students’ career trajectories starting from initial interest through intended career ambitions, which can be used to focus future recruitment and retention efforts. This resulted in 6 distinct, chronological pathway steps.

To read Houlton’s full study, go to: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/dissertations/AAI1490660/

View an in-depth discussion of this information in the corresponding Geoscience Currents Discussion Webinar.

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