Analysis of instruments focused on gender gap in STEM education

Collectives such as women and minorities such as ethnic and racial minorities are under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This under-representation becomes evident as the academic and professional scale progresses, making representation figures smaller at higher levels. This is due to the existence of stereotypes about the presence in the technological and scientific sector. Thus, horizontal segregation occurs. Intervention proposals for awareness-raising and recruitment are the result of empirical studies carried out using different methodologies and instruments, which have made it possible to survey reality. The present review of instruments arises within the framework of the doctoral thesis that studies the situation of the gender gap in the field of technological and scientific education, within the European framework. This thesis is developed from the mixed approach, giving rise to the sequencing between quantitative and qualitative techniques, for the subsequent triangulation. To this aim, it has been necessary to analyse which instruments are being used in the investigations with the greatest impact, in order to be able to follow their footsteps and propose the subsequent methodological design of the investigation. The paper presents the review process of instruments and the selected five instruments that, can be key pieces for the design mentioned above.