The STEM Career Self-Efficacy/Confidence Test (Form JR) consists of five subscales corresponding to the STEM acronym, namely Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; separate scales exist for measuring self-efficacy or confidence in pursuing careers in the Life and Physical Sciences. Our Internet edition presents the items in random order for each administration. Participants rate a total of 55 items (10 to 12 per subscale) in a 5-point Likert format.

The activities in this test are identical to those presented in the STEM Career Interest Test (Form JR) described previously. The interest test assesses how much respondents want to do the various STEM activities. Our interests, however, may be distinct from our perceived abilities. For example, we may feel confident that we can fly a kite, but have no interest in doing so. Or we may be interested in kite flying, but don.t feel that we have or could obtain the requisite skills. Thus the assessment of both interest and self-efficacy or confidence is relevant to outcome research in the STEM career field. See Dawes, Horan, and Hackett (2000) for a review of the relevant self-efficacy literature.

As with the interest test "Form JR" credits Jim Rounds' work on item development. Psychometric properties and norms will be reported here as the numbers of test takers accumulate. Currently, The STEM Career Self-Efficacy/Confidence Test should prove useful in evaluating the pre-post effects of STEM programs directed at fostering interest and persistence in STEM studies and careers. And mean subscale scores reflecting the verbal anchors (e.g., not confident, very confident, etc) may be helpful in providing qualitative feedback to individuals.

This guest edition does not save the data for subsequent recall by individual test-takers. Respondents should print a copy of their results.

• Begin the STEM Career Self-Efficacy/Confidence Test (Form JR) as a guest.
• Read a journal article explaining self-efficacy theory.