Step Up for STEM and Health Careers

NCT06445751 | Terminated Phase 2

• 1 other identifier: 2023B0273
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate "Step Up for STEM and Health Careers". The "Step Up for STEM and Health Careers" ("Step Up") game is an interactive, digital resource that includes the key elements of a bystander intervention for high school students to understand the importance of diversity in STEM; it also addresses skills, attitudes, and awareness to attain positive STEM identities and mitigate bias and harassment in STEM and health learning environments. Participants in the intervention arm will be asked to complete the Step Up interactive game; participants in the comparison group will be asked to view a PowerPoint presentation on bias and harassment in STEM/health fields as the control experience. The Step Up game intervention and study outcomes are theory-based (Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)): we will assess the impact of Step Up on attitudes about STEM/health careers, STEM/health career self-efficacy, and bystander behavior.

Conditions

Adolescent Behavior

Keywords

STEM; Adolescents; Diversity; Digital Games

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• STEM/health career attitudes using modified Career Interest (Christensen, et al., 2014) and STEM Semantics (Knezek and Christensen, 2008) questionnaires

  One's beliefs about outcomes associated with STEM/health careers

  From baseline pre-test immediately preceding randomization to post-test up to 3 days post intervention/comparator

• STEM/health career self-efficacy using a modified Career Interest Questionnaire (Christensen, et al., 2014)

  The perception one has the requisite skills and capabilities for attaining a STEM/health career

  From baseline pre-test immediately preceding randomization to post-test up to 3 days post intervention/comparator

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Intent to pursue a STEM/health career using a modified Career Interest Questionnaire (Christensen, et al., 2014)

  From baseline pre-test immediately preceding randomization to post-test up to 3 days post intervention/comparator

• Knowledge of the value of diversity in STEM/health careers using a questionnaire

  From baseline pre-test immediately preceding randomization to post-test up to 3 days post intervention/comparator

• Intent to intervene as a bystander when witnessing harassment on the basis of race, gender, disability status, etc., using a questionnaire derived from the Bystander Questionnaire (Garza et al., 2023; McMahon and Banyard, 2012)

  From baseline pre-test immediately preceding randomization to post-test up to 3 days post intervention/comparator

Study Arms (2)

Step Up for STEM Careers Game Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Youth in the intervention group will play a six-episode, interactive game on the importance of diversity in STEM and health careers, STEM/health career self-efficacy, and creating an inclusive learning environment for others. This includes featuring diverse youth who model STEM/health self-efficacy; integrating STEM/health professional characters as "in-game" content experts and role models; and incorporating mini games to reinforce skills and behavior.

Behavioral: Step Up for STEM and Health Careers ("Step Up") game

Educational PowerPoint

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Youth in the comparator group will complete an educational PowerPoint presentation on the importance of diversity in STEM and health careers, STEM/health career self-efficacy, and creating an inclusive learning environment for others. This PowerPoint presentation will contain sections that correspond to each episode of the Step Up for STEM and Health Careers intervention.

Behavioral: Educational PowerPoint Presentation on Diversity in STEM Careers

Interventions

Step Up for STEM and Health Careers ("Step Up") game BEHAVIORAL

Step Up for STEM and Health Careers ("Step Up") game is an interactive, digital resource to help high school students understand the importance of diversity in STEM and health careers, attain STEM/health career self-efficacy, and help them create an inclusive learning environment for others.

Step Up for STEM Careers Game Intervention

Educational PowerPoint Presentation on Diversity in STEM Careers BEHAVIORAL

An educational PowerPoint on Diversity in STEM careers to increase adolescents' STEM/health career self-efficacy, and help them create an inclusive learning environment for others.

Educational PowerPoint

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 19 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking
• Access to a computer and internet connection
• Live in Chicago Metropolitan Area
• Current high school student (enrolled in grade 9-12); or in 12th grade in 2023-2024 school year

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ohio State University: lead
• Resilient Games Studio: collaborator
• University of Chicago: collaborator
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43202, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Adolescent Behavior

Interventions

Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; Health Personnel

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy; Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Tim Parsons

  Resilient Games Studio

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Scientist, CATALYST

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2024
• First Posted: June 6, 2024
• Study Start: July 2, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 21, 2025
• Study Completion: March 21, 2025
• Last Updated: May 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)