Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure STEM Undergraduate Students’ Comprehensive Educational Process

This study reports the development and validation of an instrument, “Undergraduate STEM Educational Process Questionnaire” (USEPQ) to assess the learning experiences of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-major undergraduates from the perspective of a conceptualized comprehensive STEM educational process framework that consists of key essentials such as course learning and instruction, educational environment, assessment methods, and unique STEM attributes. Exploration Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis performed on independent samples indicate that the finalized 9-factor, 41-item USEPQ possesses a stable factor structure and sound psychometric properties. The factors of the validated scale are Classroom Instruction of Courses, Support from Faculty Members, Alternative Assessment Methods, Cooperative Learning, Resources and Service, Academic Competition, Cross-discipline Features of Program Courses, Connectedness of Program Courses, and Examination Difficulty.