Generating measures of Engineering Identity Development among young learners

This paper describes the development of a reliable instrument designed to assess longitudinally K-5 students' identity development in engineering. Item construction, pilot testing, and factor analysis are described along with reliability and validity of the instrument. The aim of the Engineering Identity Development Scale [EIDS] was to measure children's academic, school, and occupational identity and engineering aspirations. The findings from this research provide insight into the factors that facilitate and impede pre-adolescent identity development in engineering.

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