Table 7 Rotated factor loadings from the first factor analysis
Item no. | Wording | Factor loadings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | ||
Item 13 | I would enjoy taking STEM courses | .976 | − .151 | − .117 |
Item 12 | The idea of being in a STEM class excites me | .952 | − .132 |  |
Item 11 | Being in a STEM class would be fun for me | .936 | − .133 | − .107 |
Item 3 | I find STEM-related jobs very interesting | .773 |  | − .141 |
Item 10 | STEM classes are boring | .725 | .109 | .208 |
Item 2 | I would take a course in STEM even if it were not required | .712 | Â | Â |
Item 14 | I dislike STEM courses (R) | .687 | .269 | .239 |
Item 6 | I would enjoy working in a STEM field | .677 | .186 | − .127 |
Item 9 | STEM is a good college major for me | .660 | .209 | − .139 |
Item 5 | STEM is an important field for me | .624 | .129 | − .198 |
Item 8 | I am not interested in a degree in STEM | .623 | .296 | .155 |
Item 7 | I would rather do something else than take on a STEM-related job | .513 | .406 | .180 |
Item 19 | I feel I would have something to be proud of as a STEM professional | .463 | .198 | − .320 |
Item 10 | STEM classes are boring | − .123 | .810 | − .145 |
Item 22 | I do not think I can achieve anything meaningful as a STEM professional (R) | Â | .804 | Â |
Item 16 | I would certainly feel useless in a STEM-related job (R) |  | .776 | − .107 |
Item 20 | I don’t think I will succeed in a STEM field (R) |  | .765 | − .178 |
Item 1 | Working in a STEM field would be a waste of my time (R) | .222 | .629 | .122 |
Item 4 | I don’t think working in a STEM field would help me achieve my professional aspirations (R) | .352 | .561 | .180 |
Item 21 | I would be able to succeed in a STEM field as well as most other people | .142 | .243 | − .607 |
Item 17 | I feel I have a number of good qualities to be successful in a STEM field | .267 | .219 | − .607 |
Item 15 | I feel I have what it takes to succeed in a STEM-related job | .300 | .280 | − .528 |