Cause of discrepancy between survey and interview displays of quantum career knowledge

Determine the factors driving the discrepancy between focus group participants’ coherent survey descriptions of quantum careers and their difficulty articulating quantum concepts during group interviews, and ascertain whether access to external information during survey completion accounts for this difference.

Background

The study combined an online survey with focus group interviews to assess STEM undergraduates’ knowledge of and interest in quantum careers. Some focus group participants provided coherent written descriptions of quantum careers on the survey, yet during interviews many struggled to explain what quantum is and to describe quantum career pathways.

The authors note an unresolved uncertainty about the cause of this difference and suggest it might be related to participants’ ability to consult external sources when completing the survey. Clarifying this cause is important for interpreting survey-based knowledge assessments and for designing effective educational interventions in quantum information science.

References

It is not clear what drove this difference, but it might be related to the ability to look up information about quantum careers on the survey.

— Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Undergraduates' Knowledge and Interest in Quantum Careers: Barriers and Opportunities to Building a Diverse Quantum Workforce  (2404.03439 - Rosenberg et al., 2024) in Section III.A (Undergraduate Students’ Knowledge and Interest in Quantum and Quantum Careers)