Results of the combined analyses led to
revisions of the instrument prior to a larger comparative
study – a known-group comparison. A
self-identified STEM-based high school program
and a conventional college-preparatory
program were compared. Principal components
analysis and Cronbach’s alpha procedures were
again applied to the data collected. The two
samples were compared using three distinct
independent variables – educational location,
grade level, and gender. Each independent variable
was analyzed for each principal component.