EXPLORING AND DEVELOPING MATHEMATICS-RELATED CAREER CHOICE SURVEY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Abstract

STEM disciplines are crucial for human development and offer low unemployment rates and strong economic prospects. Despite this, many countries struggle with a shortage of STEM graduates, prompting questions about why more students don't pursue STEM majors. The study aims to assess the reliability and validity of the mathematics-related career choice survey for secondary school students. A cross-sectional analysis was carried out with 252 participants using the self-administered survey containing 27 items. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, and exploratory factor analysis were utilized to evaluate the questionnaires. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was significant (Chi-Square = 3749.578, p < 0.000) and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure was 0.872. This analysis identified six factors from the 27 items, with one item removed for not meeting the minimum factor loading requirement of 0.5, leaving 26 items. Cronbach’s alpha values for each factor exceeded the 0.7 threshold, confirming the internal validity of the instrument. The survey is thus a valuable resource for students and educators, offering essential insights that enhance classroom teaching methods, educational planning, and workforce readiness in mathematics.