A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity

Emine Eren; İlbilge Dökme

doi:10.66954/kusbd.1634288

EN TR

A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity

Abstract

Identity research, which helps to understand society and people, has been one of the ways to understand STEM education in the last few years. STEM education, which has a history of nearly 60 years, through the lens of identity, can give us information about how much we identify with STEM. STEM identity is a dynamic process related to how an individual sees themselves in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, how they identify with these fields, and how they are perceived by others as part of this fields. This process is based on the continuous interplay between how a self recognizes itself through social interactions and experiences throughout its life and how it is recognized by others. The hands-on experiences and social interactions offered by STEM education provide an opportunity to support the development of STEM identity. While negative experiences in this process risk weakening identity development, the fact that identity can be changed and developed at any time also gives individuals the chance to reconstruct themselves and strengthen their scientific selves. This study is a narrative review aimed at understanding STEM identity models and perspectives. In addition to the sections summarizing the literature on STEM identity, STEM teacher identity, and how STEM identity is measured, STEM identity research topics are also discussed. Finally, the current situation regarding the place and importance of STEM identity research in Turkey is summarized. Although there is no accepted common view on STEM education and STEM practices, we find it important to look at STEM education from an identity perspective when STEM identity research continues rapidly and increasingly in Türkiye, as it sheds light on future STEM studies. This study serves as a literature summary for researchers who wish to investigate and understand STEM identity in the context of education.

Keywords

STEM identity, STEM education, STEM teacher identity

Abstract

STEM EĞİTİMİNE FARKLI BİR BAKIŞ AÇISI: STEM KİMLİĞİNİN ANLATISAL İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Toplumu ve insanı anlamaya yardımcı olan kimlik araştırmaları son birkaç yıldır STEM eğitimini anlamaya yardımcı bakış açılarından biridir. Yaklaşık altmış yıllık bir geçmişe sahip olan STEM eğitimine kimlik merceğinden bakmak STEM’i ne kadar benimsediğimize dair bize bilgi verebilir. STEM kimliği, bir bireyin kendisini bilim, teknoloji, mühendislik ve matematik alanlarında nasıl gördüğü, bu alanlarla nasıl özdeşleştiği ve başkaları tarafından bu alanların bir parçası olarak nasıl algılandığıyla ilgili dinamik bir süreçtir. Bu süreç, bir bireyin yaşamı boyunca sosyal etkileşimler ve deneyimler yoluyla kendini nasıl gördüğü ve başkaları tarafından nasıl göründüğü arasındaki sürekli etkileşime dayanır. STEM eğitiminin sunduğu uygulamalı deneyimler ve sosyal etkileşimler, STEM kimliğinin gelişimini desteklemek için bir fırsat sunar. Bu süreçteki olumsuz deneyimler, kimlik gelişimini zayıflatma riski taşırken, kimliğin her zaman değiştirilebileceği ve geliştirilebileceği gerçeği, bireylere kendilerini yeniden yapılandırma ve bilimsel benliklerini güçlendirme şansı da verir. Bu çalışma, STEM kimliği modelleri ve görüşlerini anlamayı amaçlayan anlatısal bir derlemedir. STEM kimliği ve bu kimliğin nasıl ölçüldüğü STEM öğretmen kimliğine dair literatürün özetlendiği bölümlerin yanı sıra STEM kimliği araştırma konularına değinilmiştir. Son olarak Türkiye’de STEM kimliği araştırmalarının yeri ve önemine dair mevcut durum özetlenmiştir. Her ne kadar STEM eğitiminin ve STEM uygulamalarının ne olduğuna dair kabul edilmiş ortak bir görüş olmasa da Türkiye’de STEM kimliği araştırmalarının hızlı bir biçimde ve gittikçe artarak devam ettiği bu günlerde STEM eğitimine kimlik perspektifinden bakmanın gelecekteki STEM çalışmalarına ışık tutması yönüyle önemli buluyoruz. Bu çalışma STEM kimliğini eğitim bağlamında incelemek ve değerlendirmek isteyen araştırmacılar için bir literatür özeti niteliği taşımaktadır.

Keywords

STEM kimliği, STEM eğitimi, STEM öğretmen kimliği

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Primary Language

English

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Educational Sociology

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Research Article

Authors

Emine Eren ^*
0000-0003-1222-3992
Türkiye

İlbilge Dökme
0000-0003-0227-6193
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 31, 2026

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February 6, 2025

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March 11, 2026

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Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 2

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https://doi.org/10.66954/kusbd.1634288

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https://izlik.org/JA48ZF68US

APA

Eren, E., & Dökme, İ. (2026). A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 16(2), 109-123. https://doi.org/10.66954/kusbd.1634288

AMA

1.Eren E, Dökme İ. A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity. KUSBD. 2026;16(2):109-123. doi:10.66954/kusbd.1634288

Chicago

Eren, Emine, and İlbilge Dökme. 2026. “A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity”. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 16 (2): 109-23. https://doi.org/10.66954/kusbd.1634288.

EndNote

Eren E, Dökme İ (July 1, 2026) A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 16 2 109–123.

IEEE

[1]E. Eren and İ. Dökme, “A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity”, KUSBD, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 109–123, July 2026, doi: 10.66954/kusbd.1634288.

ISNAD

Eren, Emine - Dökme, İlbilge. “A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity”. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 16/2 (July 1, 2026): 109-123. https://doi.org/10.66954/kusbd.1634288.

JAMA

1.Eren E, Dökme İ. A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity. KUSBD. 2026;16:109–123.

MLA

Eren, Emine, and İlbilge Dökme. “A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity”. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 109-23, doi:10.66954/kusbd.1634288.

Vancouver

1.Emine Eren, İlbilge Dökme. A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity. KUSBD. 2026 Jul. 1;16(2):109-23. doi:10.66954/kusbd.1634288

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A Different Perspective on STEM Education: A Narrative Review of STEM Identity

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Abstract

Abstract

STEM EĞİTİMİNE FARKLI BİR BAKIŞ AÇISI: STEM KİMLİĞİNİN ANLATISAL İNCELENMESİ

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