Developing and Validating a Scale of STEM Social Capital

• In Event: Equity in Science Assessment and Measurement

Abstract

This study developed and validated a scale of student STEM social capital (STEMSC), which comprises four dimensions: instrumental, informational, emotional/motivational, and expectation. The participants were 1,674 middle/high school students. Results from within-network construct validity approach, involving reliability tests and confirmatory factor analysis, indicated good internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Results from between-network construct validity approach showed significant correlations of the four dimensions of STEMSC with three existing STEM motivational factors, including STEM self-efficacy, identity, and career interest. This newly developed and validated STEMSC scale can be used by researchers and practitioners for measuring and understanding the causes, patterns, trends, and consequences of STEMSC, especially among middle/high school students.

Authors

• Guan Saw, Claremont Graduate University

• Kahlí Hedrick-Romano, Claremont Graduate University

• Ryan Culbertson, Texas Tech University

• Vicki Lynton, Alamo Colleges - Northwest Vista College

• Guillermo Lopez, Claremont Graduate University

• Pesha K. Mabrie, University of Texas - San Antonio