Validating a scale to measure engineers' perceived self-efficacy for engineering education outreach
Laura Fogg-Rogers1,2,3, Tim Moss2,3
1Science Communication Unit, University of the West of England, Bristol, England, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|October 17, 2019
Summary
A new scale measures engineers' confidence in science outreach. This tool helps evaluate programs aimed at improving STEM education engagement for children.
Area of Science:
- STEM Education
- Science Communication
- Engineering Outreach
Background:
- School-based education outreach is vital for shaping children's interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.
- Training and structured experiences enhance engineers' self-efficacy for outreach, leading to improved public engagement quality and frequency.
- A validated measure of perceived self-efficacy for engineering education outreach is needed for effective science communication research and practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the Engineering Outreach Self-efficacy Scale (EOSS).
- To provide a reliable tool for assessing engineers' confidence in conducting educational outreach activities.
- To support research and practice in science communication and STEM engagement.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 10-item scale to measure engineering education outreach self-efficacy.
- Reliability testing using Cronbach's alpha (α = .92) with a sample of 160 engineers.
- Validation through convergent validity with general self-efficacy and analysis of experience and training effects.
Main Results:
- The EOSS demonstrated good internal consistency and reliability.
- Higher self-efficacy was correlated with greater engineering outreach experience.
- Engineers who received training showed significant improvements in EOSS scores, indicating sensitivity to change.
Conclusions:
- The developed Engineering Outreach Self-efficacy Scale (EOSS) is a reliable and valid instrument.
- The scale can effectively measure changes in self-efficacy following training interventions.
- EOSS will be valuable for evaluating engineering education outreach initiatives and public engagement with science.
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