ERIC Number: EJ1246888
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2469-9632
EISSN: N/A
Development of Instruments to Assess Students' Spatial Learning Attitudes (SLA) and Interest in Science, Technology and Geospatial Technology (STEM-GEO)
Bodzin, Alec; Hammond, Thomas; Fu, Qiong; Farina, William
International Journal of Educational Methodology, v6 n1 p67-81 2020
Two new instruments were created to assess secondary students' (ages 14-18) spatial learning attitudes and their interest in science and technology, related careers ideas and perceptions about geospatial technologies. These instruments were designed to evaluate the outcomes of a geospatial learning curriculum project. During a two-year period, we explored the use of these instruments during the prototype testing and pilot testing of a series of socio-environmental science investigations. The instruments were implemented with 664 ninth grade urban students from a population traditionally underrepresented in STEM-related fields. Both classical and Rasch analyses were conducted each year to optimize the instruments. The resulting 24-item Student Interest in Science, Technology and Geospatial Technology (STEM-GEO) measure and 9-item Spatial Learning Attitudes (SLA) measure had high internal consistency reliabilities (Cronbach's Alpha) as well as acceptable Rasch reliabilities. Content validity and construct validity evidence were also summarized and discussed.
Descriptors: Test Construction, Likert Scales, Spatial Ability, Student Attitudes, Science Interests, STEM Education, Secondary School Students, Science Careers, Geographic Information Systems, Grade 9, Test Reliability, Construct Validity, Item Response Theory, Urban Schools
Eurasian Society of Educational Research Association. Ataturk District 70.Str. No:15 Gaziantep, Turkey 27260. Tel: +90-342-2116792; Fax: +90-342-2116677; e-mail: editor@ijem.com; Web site: http://www.ijem.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; Grade 9; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DRL1614216