Scientists, their work, and how others perceive them: Self-perceptions of scientists and students’ stereotypes

Stereotypes are simplifications of complex characteristics of groups of persons and are common and widespread through media as well as everyday experiences. Especially regarding occupational groups stereotypes can be a problem because many young people base their occupational choices on these simplified conceptions. It is thus important to comprehensively depict scientists´ fields of activities. Therefore, we categorized typical scientific activities into the so-called RIASEC+N dimensions. Based on these dimensions, we investigated the self-perceptions of junior scientists (n = 92) and professors (n = 10) about their own work and compared these perceptions with the perceptions of school students ranging from grades 10 – 13 (n = 244). The results show differences between some scientific activity fields for the three groups. For example, students tend to underestimate creative and social aspects of typical scientists´ work fields and hold rather stereotypical views. Thus, interventions to promote an authentic image of science are needed.