Psychometric Validation of Engineering Students' Attitudes Toward Practical Work: A Four-Factor Measurement Model

Abstract

Practical work is a critical component of engineering education, yet there is a scarcity of psychometrically sound instruments to measure student attitudes toward it, especially in non-Western contexts. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating a new instrument, the Engineering Students’ Attitudes Toward Practical Work (ESAPW) questionnaire, within the Nigerian higher education system. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a multidimensional instrument to measure the attitudes of engineering students toward practical work in Nigeria, and to identify the key factors that shape these attitudes. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 338 engineering students at a large Nigerian polytechnic. The 30-item ESAPW questionnaire was developed through a rigorous process of item generation, expert review, and pilot testing. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to identify the underlying factor structure of the instrument, and Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess its reliability. The EFA revealed a clear four-factor structure, explaining 69.8% of the total variance: (1) Instructor Quality and Pedagogical Effectiveness (42.9%), (2) Resource Adequacy and Institutional Support (15.2%), (3) Learning Environment and Atmosphere (6.6%), and (4) Student Self-Efficacy and Engagement (5.4%). The overall reliability of the instrument was excellent (α = 0.931), and the subscales also showed high reliability (α = 0.78-0.96). The ESAPW questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring engineering students’ attitudes toward practical work in the Nigerian context. The findings highlight the primacy of instructor quality in shaping student attitudes, while also underscoring the importance of resource adequacy, the learning environment, and student self-efficacy. The instrument provides a valuable tool for educators, researchers, and policymakers to assess and improve the quality of practical work in engineering education.