Table 6.
Rating changes after four semesters for STEM professional development and self-advocacy within STEM field of study.
| Question (n) | Z statistic | p-value∗ (2-tailed) | Median difference in ratingsα |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions about STEM professional development | |||
| I make positive impressions with professional dress, conduct, and speech (34) | -3.119 | 0.002 | 0 |
| I organize tasks and manage time to complete tasks by deadlines (34) | -2.025 | 0.043 | +1 |
| I respond promptly to phone calls, emails, or letters (34) | -3.073 | 0.002 | +0.5 |
| I am satisfied with my exposure to research and/or experiential opportunities in my STEM discipline at the University of Florida (34) | -2.488 | 0.013 | +1 |
| My University of Florida experiences have helped me identify personal strengths and weaknesses with my chosen STEM field (34) | -4.623 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I have been assisted in identifying and overcoming my weaknesses within my STEM discipline (34) | -2.401 | 0.016 | +1 |
| Questions about learning disability (LD) self-advocacy related to academics/STEM field of study | |||
| I know my strengths and limitations in the learning process (31) | -4.213 | <0.001 | +2 |
| I know what accommodations I need to bypass my limitations (33) | -4.275 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I can advocate for my specific LD needs with my instructors (33) | -4.094 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I know about supports at University of Florida specific to LD students (32) | -3.88 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I know how to be clear in requests and be prepared with explanations regarding my LD (33) | -3.716 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I know how to communicate about my LD with others (33) | -3.654 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I prepare ahead for communications about my LD with others (33) | -4.43 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I am comfortable educating others about my LD (33) | -2.185 | 0.029 | 0 |
| Questions about learning disability (LD) self-advocacy related to health and wellbeing | |||
| My friends know about my LD and associated limitations (33) | -3.653 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I can ask for help from my friends when faced with limitations (33) | -4.066 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I have sought up-to-date information about my LD by talking to specialists and doing my own research (33) | -3.717 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I understand my LD (33) | -4.351 | <0.001 | +1 |
| I know how LD impacts academic progress and health Behaviors (11) | 4.183 | 0.006 | +2 |
| I have an expert on LD on my healthcare team (33) | 1.277 | 0.245 | 0 |
∗Significance set at p < 0.003 using Bonferroni correction of p < 05/20. αResponse options: 5 = Strongly agree, 4 = Agree, 3 = Neutral, 2 = Disagree, 1 = Strongly disagree.