Decoding physics identity: A Spanish-language adaptation on an instrument and its correlation with STEM achievement

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Main Authors: González-Peña, O. I., Morán-Soto, G., Rodríguez-Lara, B. M.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author González-Peña, O. I.
Morán-Soto, G.
Rodríguez-Lara, B. M.
author_facet González-Peña, O. I.
Morán-Soto, G.
Rodríguez-Lara, B. M.
contents The representation of Spanish-speaking students in STEM identity literature, particularly in physics identity, is conspicuously minimal. This study addresses this gap with a two-pronged approach. First, a physics identity instrument was adapted for Spanish-speaking STEM students to promote inclusivity in educational research. Data from 334 Mexican STEM students was collected and analysed for validation through factor analyses and Cronbach's alpha, confirming the structural integrity and reliability of the adapted instrument. Second, the instrument was employed to examine the correlation between physics identity and academic performance in a separate dataset from 200 engineering students, using multivariate linear and logistic regressions. The findings underscore gender's impact on physics course grades. Notably, variations in physics identity among engineering students indicated a potential link with their chosen field. Despite the importance of physics in engineering, physics identity was lower than expected, and performance in physics courses did not consistently correlate with a strong physics identity. However, the `interest in physics topics` subconstruct did correlate with physics course grades. This research fills a critical void by providing an adapted instrument for assessing physics identity in Spanish-speaking students and underscores the need for pedagogical shifts to enhance physics identity and STEM outcomes for Latino students.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_15392
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Decoding physics identity: A Spanish-language adaptation on an instrument and its correlation with STEM achievement
González-Peña, O. I.
Morán-Soto, G.
Rodríguez-Lara, B. M.
Physics Education
The representation of Spanish-speaking students in STEM identity literature, particularly in physics identity, is conspicuously minimal. This study addresses this gap with a two-pronged approach. First, a physics identity instrument was adapted for Spanish-speaking STEM students to promote inclusivity in educational research. Data from 334 Mexican STEM students was collected and analysed for validation through factor analyses and Cronbach's alpha, confirming the structural integrity and reliability of the adapted instrument. Second, the instrument was employed to examine the correlation between physics identity and academic performance in a separate dataset from 200 engineering students, using multivariate linear and logistic regressions. The findings underscore gender's impact on physics course grades. Notably, variations in physics identity among engineering students indicated a potential link with their chosen field. Despite the importance of physics in engineering, physics identity was lower than expected, and performance in physics courses did not consistently correlate with a strong physics identity. However, the `interest in physics topics` subconstruct did correlate with physics course grades. This research fills a critical void by providing an adapted instrument for assessing physics identity in Spanish-speaking students and underscores the need for pedagogical shifts to enhance physics identity and STEM outcomes for Latino students.
title Decoding physics identity: A Spanish-language adaptation on an instrument and its correlation with STEM achievement
topic Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.15392