The research study article took note of the variables that were used to contextualize what was being analyzed as part of the longitudinal survey (the concepts that were part of the analysis).

• personal characteristics/background contexts: the attributes that would lead to the student's ideas about their future career
• learning experiences: this was contextualized by the variable of the student's grade point average during their high school years
• self-efficacy: the variable used was the math self-concept of the student as the closest variable to embody this concept
• outcome expectations: the variables used for this concept were anything that indicated success or persistence in the career field
• interest: any goal that seemed to suggest the encouragement or discouragement of choosing a certain career path
• contextual influences: any variable that shows career choices being affected by outside concerns (i.e. financial difficulties)
• choice goals: the academic and career goals that could influence students to choose a major (that might or might not be a STEM major)