Understanding attitudes toward science and measuring them remain two major challenges for science teaching. This article reviews the concept of attitudes toward science and their measurement. It subsequently analyzes the psychometric properties of the Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA), such as its construct validity, its discriminant and concurrent validity, and its reliability. The evidence presented suggests that TOSRA, in its Spanish-adapted version, has adequate construct validity regarding its theoretical referents, as well as good indexes of reliability. In addition, it determines the attitudes toward science of secondary school students in Santiago de Chile (n = 664) and analyzes the sex variable as a differentiating factor in such attitudes. The analysis by sex revealed low-relevance gender difference. The results are contrasted with those obtained in English-speaking countries. This TOSRA sample showed good psychometric parameters for measuring and evaluating attitudes toward science, which can be used in classrooms of Spanish-speaking countries or with immigrant populations with limited English proficiency.

This descriptive study aims to analyze personality traits associated with gender and attitudes and self-efficacy towards teaching science and mathematics in pre-service primary teachers. Convenience sampling was used to select 92 pre-service primary teachers in Chile, who were administered a set of instruments to measure these variables; these instruments have displayed adequate levels of validity and reliability. Results show that an important percentage of pre-service primary teachers have low levels of self-efficacy and attitudes toward teaching these subjects and have personality traits that indicate marked gender stereotypes. Furthermore, the measured variables together generate distinct profiles of pre-service primary teachers. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to creating more equitable school environments that strive to attract more students, especially girls, to engage in science and mathematics.

This article contributes to the study of the gender gap for women in STEM, by exploring the socioemotional dimensions of gifted girls with positive attitudes toward math and science, as measured by the TOSRA and TOMRA. The variables of self-concept, self-efficacy, and gender stereotype identification were examined, using the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale, Sources of Science and Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale, and Masculine-Feminine Inventory, based on gender and extracurricular enrichment program participation. The sample consisted of 103 Chilean students in 10th grade, identified as gifted using the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and t-tests to analyze the effects of gender and enrichment program participation. Results showed that self-concept for girls is lower than for boys, and lower for girls who attended enrichment programs, compared to girls who did not attend programs. Furthermore, an interaction effect was observed between gender and enrichment program attendance on the gender stereotype subscales of masculinity and submission. Implications for enrichment programs were discussed, suggesting the need to (a) focus on girls´ self-concept, (b) decrease the risk of stereotype threat, and (c) encourage gifted girls to identify how they experience and act upon gender stereotypes.

This study analyzes the interactions based on student gender that are promoted by future primary school teachers, with three distinct profiles in the subjects of natural sciences and math. The three teacher profiles combine socioemotional variables related to the teaching of these two subjects and variables related to gender bias. 17 class videos of both mathematics and natural sciences in the context of pre-service teacher preparation were analyzed regarding the interactions that took place. A prevalence of interactions directed towards boys was found. Regarding the type of profile, it was found that pre-service teachers with masculine traits promoted more interactions with gender equity. The implications for primary teacher preparation and for the creation of school environments in which girls are encouraged to engage in mathematics and natural sciences are discussed.

Astronomy is critical for human development, driving technology and innovation, and creating knowledge that allows humanity to understand the universe more fully. Women, however, remain underrepresented in this field. Many women leave the field before becoming established, yet little is known about women who persist and succeed. The purpose of this study was to explore the abilities, experiences, milestones, and individuals that have contributed to women’s talent development along their trajectories in astronomy, in the specific case of Chile. In-depth interviews were conducted with five talented women in astronomy, who have developed their academic and professional careers in Chile. The results show that micro, meso, and macro levels of influence, in conjunction with different time periods, were critical for the participants’ trajectories and have impacted the direction of women’s paths. The astronomers highlight early experiences, mentor support, validation, and gendered experiences as they navigate their own insecurities and develop self-confidence. Implications for the study of talent development in female astronomers are discussed.

El proceso por el cual se produce esta brecha comienza y se intensifica durante el período escolar. Durante la educación primaria y secundaria, a pesar de ser igualmente competentes en matemáticas y ciencias (HUTCHISON; LYONS; ANSARI, 2018; ^{MILLER; HALPERN, 2014}), las actitudes de las mujeres hacia estas materias son más negativas, lo que tiene un impacto significativo en sus logros académicos, decisiones posteriores relacionadas con la escuela, y en sus elecciones de carrera (ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT - OECD, 2015). En particular, la población de adolescentes con AC enfrenta procesos de elección de área de profundización académica y profesional con características únicas. Ello, debido a su precocidad intelectual, multiplicidad de potencialidades, así como de las expectativas que se producen en torno a sus proyecciones profesionales (^{JUNG; YOUNG, 2018}; ^{WATTERS; DIEZMANN, 2015}). Respecto al área de ciencia y matemática en la etapa escolar, la interacción de estas características con factores motivacionales, de autoconcepto y autoeficacia juegan un rol crítico a la hora de entender el desarrollo de vocaciones, así como el abandono de las mismas, lo que se observa más frecuentemente entre las mujeres (^{BENÖLKEN, 2019}; ^{VU et al., 2019}).