The STEM Semantics Survey (Tyler-Wood, Knezek, &
Christensen, 2010) was used to measure interest in each
STEM subject as well as interest in STEM careers more
generally. The STEM Semantics Survey was adapted from
Knezek and Christensen’s (1998) Teacher’s Attitudes Toward
Information Technology Questionnaire (TAT) derived
from earlier Semantic Differential research by Zaichkowsky
(1985). The five most consistent adjective pairs of the ten
used on the TAT were incorporated as descriptors for target
statements reflecting perceptions of science, mathematics,
engineering and technology. A fifth scale representing
interest in a career in science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics was also created. The internal consistency
ratings for the five subscales ranged from 0.88 to 0.93,
which can be considered very good (DeVellis, 1991). The
five scales had five items each and each item was presented
as semantic adjective pairs (fascinating: mundane;
exciting: unexciting; and so forth) to describe STEM dispositions
and career attitudes.