Unlocking Indonesian primary students’ attitudes toward STEM education and interests in STEM-related careers using latent profile analysis

This study explores the attitudes of Indonesian primary students toward science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and their interest in STEM-related careers. We conducted a survey using the students’ attitudes toward STEM (S-STEM) instrument, collecting data from 166 fourth and fifth-grade students (93 females and 73 males) in North Sumatra and West Java provinces, Indonesia. By employing latent profile analysis (LPA), we categorized student interest in STEM into three distinct groups: high, moderate, and low interest. Surprisingly, our findings indicate no significant differences in interest based on grade, gender, school location, or school type. The insights gained from LPA highlight the importance of customized educational strategies to promote effective STEM engagement in Indonesia. This research underscores the role of attitudinal profiling in enhancing STEM education implementation and nurturing future STEM careers.