DYNA JOURNAL ENGINEERING

Key words:

Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Education, Psychometry, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Systems, Psychometric Validation, FEM Simulation, Instructional Design, Learning Assessment, Educational Research, Higher Education, Workload Management.

Article type:

ARTICULO DE INVESTIGACION / RESEARCH ARTICLE

Section:

RESEARCH ARTICLES

This study reports the development and validation of a psychometric instrument designed to assess students’ perceptions of a practical learning activity in the Master’s program in Industrial Engineering. The activity, part of “Manufacturing Systems and Materials Forming” course integrates laboratory experimentation and Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation. It was structured around four latent dimensions: perceived usefulness, time and resources invested, understanding of academic concepts, and evaluation of pedagogical methodology. Items were generated through a top-down approach based on teaching experience, including both positively and negatively worded statements. After reliability testing, eight items were removed. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a two-factor structure, refined using Unweighted Least Squares. The final 17-item questionnaire showed high internal consistency and construct validity, with no bias between language or academic background groups. A second survey confirmed response stability and indicated higher time investment, offering a reliable tool for improving instructional design and workload management.
Key words: Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Education, Psychometry