Ag a perfect place to 'do science' (Editorial)
So often, it’s how something is said that makes more of an impression than what is said. That appears to be the case in encouraging young students to consider careers in science, according to a recent psychology study from New York University and Princeton University.
Over the course of a school year, researchers found that elementary school children lose confidence that they can “be scientists,” but remain more confident that they can “do science.”
While you scratch your head and ask, “What’s the difference?” know that it comes down to what Marjorie Rhodes, an associate professor in NYU’s department of psychology and the senior author of the study, called action-focused language versus identity focused language. The kids cast a wider net over who can be involved science than who they deem to be scientists.