When Talent Is Not Enough: Why Technologically Talented Women Are Not Studying Technology

This article builds on two earlier studies. The first one defined and assessed technological competence among adolescents (Autio & Hansen, 2002). The second, traced three students who had achieved the best results in a measurement of technological competence given 15 years ago (Autio, 2011). This study showed that, in terms of technological competence, it is possible to predict students' potential for career success in the technical professions. The aim of this study was to examine how the three highest scoring females have progressed. Are they working in technology today, or did they find other professions? In addition, the researcher tried to determine the elements accounting for the participants' motivated behavioral choices in the area of technology. Finally, in the discussion section, the researcher will highlight some differences within these elements between males and females. The main research questions were as follows: (1) Did technologically talented females choose technological careers?; and (2) What were the main elements in the test participants' motivated behavioral choices in the area of technology? The research data was analyzed using content analysis. The analysis was carried out by assessing which of the essential elements in the participants' lives contributed to their motivated behavioral choices in the area of technology. These findings were later classified and finally reported in the conclusions. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.)