Motivation 

Social group membership increases STEM engagement among preschoolers 

STEM Engagement 

Programming experience promotes higher STEM motivation among first-grade girls 

Effects of Stereotypes  

Computing whether she belongs: Stereotypes undermine girls’ interest and sense of belonging in computer science

Interest Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes about interests start early and cause gender disparities in computer science and engineering

Master, A., Alexander, T., Thompson, J., Fan, W., Meltzoff, A. N., & Cheryan, S. (2025). Causes and consequences of stereotypes: Interest stereotypes reduce adolescent girls’ motivation to enroll in computer science classesJournal of Research on Technology in Education [Special issue: Computer science for all], 57, 56-83.

Master, A., Baker, S., Patel, K., Roy, P., & Butler, L. P. (In press). Role of stereotypes in gender development and disparities. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology.

Master, A., Meltzoff, A. N., Tang, D., & Cheryan, S. (2025). Divergence of children’s gender stereotypes and motivation across different STEM fields. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(18), e2408657122.

Stewart, C. M., Master, A., Mire, S. S., Hassett, K. S., & Smith, B. H. (2024). Perceptions of academic performance, impairment, and mental health in college students with and without ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 28(14), 1746-1759

Sriutaisuk, S., Huansuriya, T., & Master, A. (2024). Growth mindsets and mastery motivation interact in predicting achievement of adolescents in Southeast AsiaKasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 45, 1025-1036.

Tang, D., Meltzoff, A. N., Cheryan, S., Fan, W., & Master, A. (2024). Longitudinal stability and change across a year in children’s gender stereotypes about four STEM fieldsDevelopmental Psychology, 60(6), 1109-1130.

Turnquest, K., Fan, W., Rangel, V. S., Dyer, N., & Master, A. (2024). Achievement emotions predict transfer student academic successSocial Psychology of Education, 27, 1481-1508.

Master, A., Tang, D., Forsythe, D. H., Alexander, T., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2023) Gender equity and motivational readiness for computational thinking in early childhoodEarly Childhood Research Quarterly [Special issue: Examining computational thinking in early childhood], 64, 242-254. 

Sampige, R., Tang, D., Frankel, L., & Master, A. (2023). Distance learning and perceived social support: Identifying protective factors for families’ COVID-related stress and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemicMerrill-Palmer Quarterly, 69(2), 158-187.

Master, A., Meltzoff, A. N., & Cheryan, S. (2021). Gender stereotypes about interests start early and cause gender disparities in computer science and engineering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118, e2100030118.

Master, A. (2021). Gender stereotypes influence children’s STEM motivation. Child Development Perspectives, 15, 203-210.

Zucker, T. A., Montroy, J., Master, A., Assel, M., McCallum, C., & Yeomans-Maldonado, G. (2021). Expectancy-value theory & preschool parental involvement in informal STEM learning. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 76, 101320.

Cvencek, D., Paz-Albo, J., Master, A., Herranz Llácer, C. V., Hervás-Escobar, A., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2020). Math is for me: A field intervention to strengthen math self-concepts in Spanish-speaking 3rd grade children. Frontiers in Psychology, 11:593995.

Master, A., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2020). Cultural stereotypes and sense of belonging contribute to gender gaps in STEM. International Journal of Gender, Science, and Technology, 12, 152-198. 

Goyer, J. P., Cohen, G. L., Cook, J. E., Master, A., Apfel, N., Lee, W., Henderson, A. G., Reeves, S. L., Okonofua, J. A., & Walton, G. M. (2019). Targeted identity-safety interventions cause lasting reductions in discipline citations among minority boys. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 117, 229-259.  

†Master, A., †Butler, L. P., & Walton, G. M. (2017). How the subjective relationship between the self, others, and a task drives interest. In O'Keefe, P. A., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (Eds.), The science of interest (pp. 209-226). New York, NY: Springer.  

Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2017). Social group membership increases STEM engagement among preschoolers. Developmental Psychology, 53, 201-209. 

Master, A., Cheryan, S., Moscatelli, A., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2017). Programming experience promotes higher STEM motivation among first-grade girls. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 160, 92-106. 

Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2016). Computing whether she belongs: Stereotypes undermine girls' interest and sense of belonging in computer science. Journal of Educational Psychology, 108, 424-437. 

Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2016). Motivation and identity. In K. R. Wentzel & D. B. Miele (Eds.), Handbook of motivation at school, 2nd edition (pp. 300-319). New York, NY: Routledge. 

Master, A., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2016). Building bridges between psychological science and education: Cultural stereotypes, STEM, and equity. Prospects, 46, 215-234. 

Master, A., Meltzoff, A. N., & Lent, R. (2016). Neuroscience, psychology, and society: Translating research to improve learning. Prospects, 46, 191-198. 

Cheryan, S., Master, A., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2015). Cultural stereotypes as gatekeepers: Increasing girls' interest in computer science and engineering by diversifying stereotypes. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 49. 

Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2014). Reducing adolescent girls' concerns about STEM stereotypes: When do female teachers matter? International Review of Social Psychology [Special issue: Stereotype threat in children], 27, 79-102.

†Bryan, C. J., †Master, A., & Walton, G. M. (2014). "Helping" vs. "being a helper": Invoking the self to increase helping in young children. Child Development, 85, 1836-1842.

Romero, C., Master, A., Paunesku, D., Dweck, C. S., & Gross, J. J. (2014). Academic and emotional functioning in middle school: The role of implicit theories. Emotion, 14, 227-234. 

*Yeager, D. S., Purdie-Vaughns, V., Garcia, J., Apfel, N., Brzustoski, P., Master, A., Hessert, W. T., Williams, M. E., & Cohen, G. L. (2014). Breaking the cycle of mistrust: Wise interventions to provide critical feedback across the racial divide. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143, 804-824. 
*Recipient of the 2015 Robert B. Cialdini Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology 

Master, A., & Walton, G. M. (2013). Minimal groups increase young children's motivation and learning on group-relevant tasks. Child Development, 84, 737-751. 

Master, A., Markman, E. M., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Thinking in categories or along a continuum: Consequences for children's social judgments. Child Development, 83, 1145-1163. 

Cohen, G. L., Garcia, J., Apfel, N., & Master, A. (2011; 2007). A self-affirmation intervention to reduce the racial achievement gap. In E. Aronson & J. Aronson (Eds.), Readings about the social animal, 10th edition (pp. 304-315) and 11th edition (pp. 288-299). New York: Worth Freeman. 

Dweck, C. S., & Master, A. (2009). Self-concept. In W. Carey, A. Crocker, E. Elias, H. Feldman, & W. Coleman (Eds.), Developmental-behavioral pediatrics, 4th edition (pp. 427-435). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. 

Dweck, C. S., & Master, A. (2009). Self-theories and motivation: Students' beliefs about intelligence. In K. R. Wentzel & A. Wigfield (Eds.), Handbook of motivation at school (pp. 123-140). New York, NY: Routledge. 

Lepper, M. R., Master, A., & Yow, W. Q. (2008). Intrinsic motivation in education. In M. L. Maehr, S. A. Karabenick, & T. C. Urdan (Eds.), Advances in motivation and achievement, Volume 15: Social psychological perspectives (pp. 521-555). Bingley, UK: Emerald. 

Dweck, C. S., & Master, A. (2007). Self-theories motivate self-regulated learning. In D. H. Schunk & B. Zimmerman (Eds.), Motivation and self-regulated learning: Theory, research, and applications (pp. 31-51). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. 

Cohen, G. L., Garcia, J., Apfel, N., & Master, A. (2006). Reducing the racial achievement gap: A social-psychological intervention. Science, 313, 1307-1310. 
†Authors contributed equally.

†Jarvis, M., Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2020). Feeling connected to others can improve  

STEM engagement. National Science Foundation 2020 STEM For All Video Showcase.  

Recipient of a Presenter’s Choice Award; one of “Most Discussed” Presentations 

Cheryan, S., Master, A., Pope, T., & Yamamoto, K. (2018). Redesigning environments increases girls' interest in CS.  National Science Foundation 2018 STEM For All Video Showcase. 

*Master, A., Cheryan, S., Meltzoff, A. N., Mendoza, J., & Moscatelli, A. (2018). Empowering young girls in STEM.  National Science Foundation 2018 STEM For All Video Showcase. 

* Recipient of a Facilitator's Choice Award  

Cheryan, S., Master, A., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2017). The gender gap in tech isn't set in stone.  The Los Angeles Times. 

Master, A. (2017). Make STEM social to motivate preschoolers.  NAEYC. 

Master, A. (2017). Module 19: Early STEM Learning [online module].  Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (producer). 

Master, A. (2017). Teachers' mindsets about math (and why they matter).  Teaching Young Children. 

Master, A. (2017). Ten things to know about math.  NAEYC. 

Master, A. (2016). Group work gets kids more engaged in STEM.  The Conversation. Reposted by SFGate.com and The Christian Science Monitor.  

Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2016). Researchers explain how stereotypes keep girls out of computer science classes.  The Washington Post. 

Master, A. (2015). Countering stereotypes and enhancing women's sense of belonging to reduce gender gaps in pSTEM.  Mindset Scholars Network.  

Master, A. (2015). Praise that makes learners more resilient.  Mindset Scholars Network. 

Master, A. (2015). Want girls to be more interested in computer science? Change some classroom stereotypes.  The Conversation. Reposted by Time.com and iflscience.com. 

Master, A., Cheryan, S., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2015). How cultural stereotypes push girls away from computer science and what we can do to fix it.  Neuroeducação, 4, 53-57. 

Robinson, S., & Master, A. (2025, July). How to increase sense of belonging in computer science classes. Breakout session presented at the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) conference, Cleveland, OH.

Robinson, S., & Master, A. (2025, June). Why a sense of belonging matters (and how to increase it). Interactive session presented at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Live 25, San Antonio, TX.

Patel, K. S., Master, A., & Danovitch, J. (2025, May). American and Indian adolescents’ gender-based stereotypes about science engagement. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Minneapolis, MN.

Master, A. (2025, April). Invited discussant. In Innovative teaching & mentoring in educational psychology. Symposium presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Denver, CO.

Baker, S., Master, A., & Fan, W. (2025, April). Nationally representative evidence that elementary school executive function mediates between father absence and mathematical achievement. In C. Fong (Session Organizer), Memory and executive functioning across academic subjects. Roundtable presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Denver, CO.

Master, A., Patel, K. S., Weltzien, K., & Sharmin, S. (2025, April). Gender and the development of belonging in STEM. In C. Fong & C. Rozek (Chairs), How to create environments of belonging for students: New perspectives on school belonging research. Session presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Denver, CO.

Robinson, S., Turcotte, P., & Master, A. (2025, April). Women’s completion of STEM degrees based on 8th-grade mathematics achievement. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Denver, CO.

Tang, D., & Master, A. (2025, April). Longitudinal study of gender and race differences in math and CS subjective task values. In D. Tang & S. Wan (Chairs), Unpacking gender and race dynamics in the development of STEM motivation using situated expectancy-value theory. Symposium presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Denver, CO.

Cutler, C., Burris, J., Lee, K., Sriutaisuk, S., & Master, A. (2025, March). Growing our math mindsets: Understanding incoming preservice teachers’ mindsets. Presentation given at the 52nd Annual Conference of the Research Council on Mathematics Learning (RCML), College Station, TX.

Thigpen, L. (Moderator), Cobo, A., Flaherty, M., Master, A., Patel, J., & Yadav, A. (2025, February). Championing computer science in the early elementary grades. Panel presented at SIGCSE TS 2025 (56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education), Pittsburgh, PA.

Robinson, S., & Master, A. (2024, July). Why sense of belonging matters (and how to increase it). Breakout session presented at the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Sharmin, S., Master, A., Mesa, M. P., Bambha, V. P., & Zucker, T. A. (2024, August). Children’s conceptions of scientists as similar to them: New “Draw A Scientist” Test findings. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) convention, Seattle, WA.

Stewart, C., Master, A., Mire, S., Hassett, K., & Smith, B. (2024, August). Perceived academic competence, impairment, and mental health in university students with or without ADHD. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) convention, Seattle, WA.

Stewart, C., Laakman, A., Mire, S., Master, A., Hassett, K., & Smith, B. (2024, August). Defining and measuring positive illusory bias in ADHD: A scoping review. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) convention, Seattle, WA.

Master, A., Meltzoff, A. N., Tang, D., & Cheryan, S. (2024, July). Divergence of children and adolescents’ gender stereotypes across different STEM fields. In D. Miller (Chair), The impact of gender stereotypes on motivational STEM outcomes: New research directions and variation across development. Symposium presented at the Network Gender & STEM Conference 2024, Heidelberg, Germany.

Lee, K., Thompson, J., & Master, A. (2024, April). The importance of role models who show enthusiasm about STEM. In X.-Y. Chen & E. Q. Rosenzweig (Chairs), Beyond seeing success: Exploring optimal features of role models and mentors to broaden STEM participation. Session presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia, PA.

Lee, S., Lee, K., & Master, A. (2024, April). Exploring the dynamics of daily experiences, emotions, and depression among Asian American students: The moderating role of growth mindsets. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia, PA.

Patel, K., Master, A., & Danovitch, J. (2024, April). A situated expectancy-value approach to understanding Indian and American adolescents’ science attitudes and beliefs. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia, PA.

Patel, K., Master, A., & Danovitch, J. (2024, March). Indian and American adolescents’ beliefs about science learning: A cross-cultural perspective. In K. Patel & A. Bodas (Chairs), Science and me: How scientific thought and engagement is shaped by identity factors and diverse learning contexts. Symposium presented at the Cognitive Development Society, Pasadena, CA.

Turcotte, P., & Master, A. (2024, April). College student engagement and belonging across the COVID-19 pandemic. In D. Huddlestun (Chair), Student perceptions and feelings of belonging across COVID and beyond. Session presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Philadelphia, PA.

Master, A. (2023, July). How to counter stereotypes to improve equity in computer science. Mini session presented at the virtual Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) conference.

Master, A. (2023, March). Discussant. In A. Rutland (Chair), STEM Inequity: Promoting STEM engagement and challenging STEM stereotypes among marginalized youth. Symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Salt Lake City, UT.

Master, A., Alexander, T., Thompson, J., Fan., W., Meltzoff, A., & Cheryan, S. (2023, February). Gender-interest stereotypes reduce adolescent girls’ enrollment interest in STEM. In M. Wang (Chair), From preschool to academia: The development of science gender disparities. Symposium presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), Atlanta, GA.

Sriutaisuk, S., & Master, A. (2023, May). Latent profile analysis of adolescent girls’ self-perceptions and gender stereotypes in math. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Virtual Conference.

Tang, D., & Master, A. (2023, April). Interest stereotypes predict adolescents’ beliefs that computer science is useful and intentions to major in STEM. In D. Tang (Chair), Understanding individual and contextual predictors of students’ STEM major intention and promoting diversity in STEM. Symposium presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chicago, IL.

Thompson, J., Alexander, T., Fan, W., & Master, A. (2023, March). Countering gender stereotypes in computer science. In S. Zhao & P. Setoh (Chairs), Tracing the source of gender disparities in STEM: Children’s macro- and micro-level sociocultural contexts. Symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Salt Lake City, UT.

Tran, M.-H., Master, A., Alexander, T., Wu, W., Thompson, J., & Olvera, N. (2023, May). Racial/ethnic stereotypes predict math motivation in Hispanic middle school students. In V. Diaz (Chair), Perceptions of the self, social identities, and STEM fields: Influences on STEM motivation and participation. Symposium presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Virtual Conference.

Tran, M.-H., Master, A., Thompson, J., & Olvera, N. (2023, March). Racial/ethnic stereotypes predict science motivation in Latino middle school students. In A. Joy (Chair), Understanding the antecedents of gender and ethnic under-representation in STEM among children and adolescents. Symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Salt Lake City, UT.

Alexander, T., Meltzoff, A. N., Cheryan, S., & Master, A. (2022, April). Understanding math gender gaps by grade level and race/ethnicity: A cross-sectional investigation. In F. Law (Chair), Understanding the antecedents of gender and ethnic underrepresentation in STEM: Stereotypes, motivation, and belonging. Symposium submitted to the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Master, A., Cheryan, S., Stier, E., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2022, April). Consequences of teaching girls about structural causes of gender differences in STEM. In J. Gladstone (Chair), Motivational messages to broaden participation in STEM: Important Features of Messages and Messengers. Symposium submitted to the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Sriutaisuk, S., & Master, A. (2022, April). Developmental trajectories of students’ growth mindsets in STEM: A cohort-sequential longitudinal study. Presentation submitted to the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Tang, D., Cheryan, S., Meltzoff, A. N., & Master, A. (2022, April). Understanding how ability stereotypes predict girls’ math self-concepts: A longitudinal investigation. In S. Wan (Chair), Understanding students’ math self-concept: Its relation with achievement, development, and educational implications. Symposium submitted to the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Alexander, T., Meltzoff, A. N., Cheryan, S., & Master, A. (2021, September). How endorsement of gender stereotypes predicts adolescents’ interest in math. In F. Law & L. McGuire, STEM gender stereotypes in childhood and adolescence: Consequences and challenges. Symposium presented the British Psychological Society Virtual Conference.

Alexander, T., Meltzoff, A. N., Cheryan, S., & Master, A. (2021, November). How endorsement of gender stereotypes predicts adolescents’ interest in math. Poster submitted to the Learning Sciences Graduate Student Conference, Hybrid Conference.

Master A. (2021, October). Counteracting stereotypes to boost girls’ interest in STEM. Talk to be given remotely at the Human Development, Culture, and Learning Sciences Colloquium, University of Texas-Austin.

Master, A. (2021, February). Counteracting stereotypes to boost girls’ interest in computer science. Talk presented at the Texas Computer Science Teachers of America (CSTA) Virtual Conference.

Master, A. (2021, August). Let’s get motivated! Invited keynote, Transfer Student Success Conference, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX.

Master, A. (2021, April). Rewriting the story: Counteracting stereotypes to boost girls’ interest in STEM. Talk given remotely at the Child Development Lecture Series, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA.

Master, A., Meltzoff, A. N., & Cheryan, S. (2021, April). The emergence of ability stereotypes and gender differences across STEM fields. In J. Gladstone (Chair), “Yes we can”: Improving equity in education through STEM motivation and engagement. Symposium presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Tang, D., Cheryan, S., Meltzoff, A. N., & Master, A. (2021, May). Children and adolescents’ stereotypes and motivation in STEM and language arts. Flash Talk presented at the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Virtual Convention

Sampige, R., Frankel, L., Tang, D., & Master, A. (2021, April). Analyzing the relationship between children’s schooling modality and parenting stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Poster presented at the University of Houston Undergraduate Research Day, Virtual Conference.

Sriutaisuk, S., Cheryan, S., Meltzoff, A. N., & Master, A. (2021, May 26–September 1). Growth mindsets reduce the negative effects of gender stereotypes on students’ STEM motivation [Poster session]. 2021 APS Virtual Convention.

Tennison, M., Cheryan, S., Meltzoff, A. N., & Master, A. (2021, April). Gender stereotypes about interest cause gender disparities in children’s motivation in STEM. In C. Starr (Chair), Gender stereotypes and STEM motivation: Experimental, longitudinal, meta-analytic, and intervention research across the lifespan. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD).

Master, A. (2020, November). Rewriting the story: Counteracting stereotypes to boost girls’ interest in STEM. Talk given remotely at the Uppsala Child & Baby Lab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Master, A., Tennison, M., Meltzoff, A. N., & Cheryan, S. (2020). Gender stereotypes about interest cause gender disparities in children’s motivation in STEM. Poster presented at the National Science Foundation EHR Core Research PI Meeting, Alexandria, VA. https://osf.io/3wtqc/