Validating a New Survey Instrument Measuring Factors Contributing to Transfer in STEM

• In Event: Addressing Challenges in Facilitating Pathways From Community Colleges to STEM Bachelor's Degrees

Abstract

We investigated the validity of a new survey instrument measuring factors influencing transfer in STEM fields from 2-year to 4-year institutions. The psychometric properties were examined for the six latent factors on the instrument: (a) initial attitudes toward math, (b) initial attitudes toward science, (c) self-efficacy in math, (d) self-efficacy in science, (e) active learning, and (f) transfer capital. We applied confirmatory factor analysis and Item Response Theory and found that the factor structure is valid but several items can be refined to capture characteristics of students at all levels of a given latent trait. Our study advances a new survey to illuminate mechanisms underlying transfer in STEM and expands the methodological repertoire of higher education research relying on surveys.

Authors

• Xueli Wang, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Seo Young Lee, University of Wisconsin - Madison