Investigating Equitable Representation in K-8 Science Textbook Portrayal of Scientists

Abstract

This study used the Draw-A-Scientist Test Checklist (DAST-C) to analyze and assess how scientists are portrayed in the illustrations found within two different prominent science textbook series used in Texas. Researchers reviewed 18 Kindergarten through eighth grade science textbooks in which 415 pages (N=8543 total), included images depicting scientists. The historical view of a scientist is of an elderly, Caucasian male working in a laboratory, who wears glasses, has white hair, is absent-minded and disorganized, wears a lab coat and works with laboratory instruments such as test tubes. However, this study noted that both scientist age and place of work changed. These positive results showed that the pictures of scientists are getting younger and that scientists work in a variety of places both indoors and outdoors. However, this study showed that most scientist pictures are primarily portrayed as Caucasian males. This indicates that the publishers of science textbooks are still using many stereotypical pictures of scientists, even though science standards are trying to encourage underrepresented ethnic minorities and females into science careers. This non-inclusive stance promotes non-equitable representation of scientists and negatively impacts minorities and females’ science self-efficacy and science identity.