Analysis of self-efficacy and ability related to spatial tasks and the effect on retention for students in engineering

Spatial ability has been shown to be positively correlated with retention and achievement in science disciplines such as chemistry and physics. However, whether such a correlation exists for engineering has been disputed in the literature. To provide further data to answer this question, portions of the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test (PSVT) were administered to engineering and undeclared students from a College of Engineering and Physical Science (CEPS). In addition, a self-efficacy test, which was developed to assess the self confidence of students related to spatial tasks, was also administered. The data analysis showed that those students who remained in CEPS from their Freshman to Sophomore year performed better on the PSVT than those students who changed colleges or withdrew from the university. For the self-efficacy measure, a similar effect was found; however, this effect was small and not reliable. Furthermore, data are presented comparing the spatial ability and self-efficacy of upperclassmen versus underclassmen and males versus females, also analysing the effect of the number of rotations in the spatial ability questions.