Table 8 Correlations for responses to “Why did you choose your major?”

1. I chose my major because I enjoy math.

–

0.387

−0.19

0.22

0.11

–

−0.25

0.55^**

0.34

0.44^*

0.25

2. I chose my major because I enjoy science.

0.19

–

0.12

0.21

0.15

−0.18

0.16

0.25

0.3

0.17

0.14

3. I chose my major because I see great career opportunities in the STEM field.

0.40

0.094

–

0.50^*

0.503^**

0.51^**

0.51^**

0.27

0.19

0.21

0.37

4. I chose my major because I want to help others.

0.11

−0.402

0.59^**

–

0.40^*

0.30

0.13

0.23

0.15

0.17

0.35

5. I chose my major because I think there are great salary opportunities in the STEM

−0.10

0.098

0.43^*

0.27

–

0.45^*

0.26

0.11

0.17

0.26

0.55^**

6. I chose my major because I appreciate the job security that STEM career fields offer.

0.20

−0.277

0.56^*

0.55^*

0.37

–

0.19

0.14

0.28

0.20

0.15

7. I chose my major because my major field interests me.

0.11

0.183

0.44^*

0.28

0.24

0.56^*

–

0.22

0.19

0.29

0.47^*

8. I chose my major because I was good at math and science in high school

0.29

−0.4

0.23

0.25

0.36

0.56^*

0.16

–

0.32

0.45^*

0.46^*

9. I chose my major because I feel I will be capable in this field.

0.23

0.217

0.41

0.24

0.18

0.62^**

0.90^**

0.12

–

0.41^*

0.13

10. I chose my major because I am academically prepared to succeed.

0.32

0.022

−0.23

−0.33

−0.171

0.25

0.23

0.29

0.39

–

0.40^*

11. I chose my major because I want to pursue this major.

0.33

0.323

0.23

0.24

−0.132

0.41

0.55^**

−0.08

0.72^**

0.37

–