TABLE 3.
Factor loadings from the final three-factor solution from the EFA (n = 207)a
| Factorc | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itemb | I | II | III | Mean (SD) |
| I. Interest | ||||
| Int2: Using math to understand biology intrigues/would intrigue me. | 0.88 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 4.76 (1.78) |
| Int6: It is/would be fun to use math to understand biology. | 0.83 | −0.01 | −0.07 | 4.33 (1.82) |
| Int7: Using math to understand biology appeals/would appeal to me. | 0.95 | −0.01 | −0.01 | 4.62 (1.82) |
| Int8: Using math to understand biology is/would be interesting to me. | 0.96 | −0.01 | 0.01 | 4.75 (1.80) |
| II. Utility value | ||||
| Uty3: Math is valuable for me for my life science career. | 0.07 | 0.77 | −0.03 | 5.75 (1.26) |
| Uty4: It is important for me to be able to do math for my career in the life sciences. | 0.02 | 0.87 | 0.00 | 5.76 (1.28) |
| Uty5: An understanding of math is essential for me for my life science career. | −0.04 | 0.89 | 0.02 | 5.54 (1.44) |
| Uty6: Math will be useful to me in my life science career. | −0.02 | 0.85 | −0.01 | 5.76 (1.17) |
| III. Perceived cost | ||||
| Cst6: I have/would have to work harder for a biology course that incorporates math than for one that does not. | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.91 | 4.63 (1.93) |
| Cst7: I worry/would worry about getting worse grades in a biology course that incorporates math than one that does not. | 0.02 | −0.06 | 0.93 | 4.20 (2.05) |
| Cst8: Taking a biology course that incorporates math intimidates/would intimidate me. | −0.14 | −0.03 | 0.79 | 3.81 (2.03) |
| Mean factor scored | 4.61 | 5.70 | 4.21 | |
| Mean factor SD | 1.69 | 1.15 | 1.86 | |
| PVEe | 0.31 | 0.26 | 0.22 | |
| CVEe | 0.31 | 0.57 | 0.79 | |
| Cronbach’s alpha | 0.95 | 0.91 | 0.92 | |
| Factor correlations | ||||
| I | — | |||
| II | 0.62 | — | ||
| III | −0.51 | −0.27 | — | |
aSee Supplemental Table B1 for items on the initial survey that were not retained.
bItem abbreviations (e.g., Int2) correspond to the CFA factor model in Figure 2.
cFactor loadings greater than |0.50| are bolded; loadings less than |0.50| are in italics.
dMean factor score (and associated SD) is the mean score of all observed responses for the items on that factor.
ePVE, proportion of variance explained by the factor; CVE, cumulative variance explained.