Practicing Engineers’ Perceptions of Empathy and Care: Derived Exploratory Factor Structure from a 37-Item Survey

Abstract

Abstract PRACTICING ENGINEERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF EMPATHY AND CARE: FINDINGS FROM A 37-ITEM SURVEY This study is motivated by existing calls for change within engineering and engineeringeducation. The focus is on two skills or dispositions which seem to underlie essential engineeringhabits of mind for the holistic engineer of the future; empathy and care. The study explores, fromthe perspective of practicing engineers, in what ways empathy and care already exist withinengineering practice and in what ways empathy and care are considered most important toengineering practice. We analyzed this 37-item questionnaire using exploratory factor analysis(n=1574) followed by non-parametric testing (n=1481) as normality assumptions were invalid.Through exploratory factor analysis, four primary factors were formed; (a) existence inengineering work and practice, (b) importance in technical aspects of engineering, (c) potentialeffects of greater inclusion in engineering, and (d) importance in relational aspects ofengineering (see page 2 for factor reliability and associated items). Using this derived four-factor structure, non-parametric tests were used to measuredifferences in practicing engineers perceptions by gender and number of years of work experice.Along each factor, the findings suggest that practicing engineers’ with greater years of workexperience were significantly more likely to perceive empathy and care as existing inengineering practice and important to their work. Males were significantly more likely toperceive empathy and care as already existing or important to their engineering work (usingfactors 1 and 2). Overall, the results suggest practicing engineers perceive empathy and care areimportant and already existing within their own day-to-day practice. This study ends with theimplications for engineering educators based on these findings.Derived Factor Structure FactorNumber Factor Name Items Paired to Factor* Factor Reliability Existence in Engineering Work &1 Practice 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 0.857 Importance in Technical Aspects2 of Engineering 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 31 0.8613 Potential Effects 22, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 0.826 Importance in Relational Aspects4 of Engineering 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 0.837

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