Work in Progress: Developing a Quantitative Instrument for Measuring Undergraduate Engineering Students' Future Time Perspectives

The purpose of this work in progress is to refine a quantitative instrument that characterizes undergraduate engineering students based on their future time perspectives (FTPs), or their future goals and how those goals affect actions in the present. Our previous qualitative studies have shown that undergraduate engineering students fit into one of three different characteristic FTP types. Based on key characteristics of the three FTP types identified in our previous studies, we have constructed a survey. The items were adapted from pre-existing surveys, FTP literature, and quotes from participants in our qualitative studies. This study tests the validity and reliability of this survey to answer the research question: How accurately can students be described in terms of their FTP characteristics using a quantitative measure? The validity and reliability testing resulted in 27 quantitative items that describe sophomore and junior engineering students’ FTPs. These items will help advance research in student motivation and how that motivation affects their behaviors in the classroom.