High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS) Scales
Expert NotesStrengths:Captures a wide range of science experiences and attitudes over time.
Useful for understanding how science identity, interest, and achievement interact.
Cautions:Based on self-reports, so results may be affected by social desirability bias—students answering in ways they think are favorable rather than fully accurate.
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe HSLS scales are used to measure students’ science attitudes, experiences, and aspirations over time. They include items on science interest, self-confidence, identity as a “science person,” and participation in science courses or activities. The goal is to track how students’ science skills and…IONIC (ICAP to Measure by Observation Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Science Practice Implementation in the Classroom)
Expert NotesStrengths:Student-focused, observation-based measure of NGSS practices.
Uses the ICAP framework to differentiate levels of scientific practice, supporting more fine-grained analysis than Likert-scale measures
Cautions:Requires observer training and shared interpretation of practice levels
Not yet tested for its ability to predict student outcomes such as achievement, inquiry skills, or motivation.
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe IONIC (ICAP to Measure by Observation Next Generation Science Standards Science Practice Implementation in the Classroom) Observation is a lesson rating protocol to observe the eight scientific methods of the next generation science standards in K-12 science classrooms. This instrument contains…Engineering-Infused Lesson Rubric
Expert NotesStrengths:Can be used by teachers, coaches, and curriculum developers to analyze lessons and materials *before* instruction occurs and identify opportunities to strengthen engineering connections
Cautions:Appropriate for scoring individual lessons but not entire units or curricular materials
Reliable use, especially for research or cross-classroom comparisons, requires a shared understanding of rubric categories and examples.
Focuses on the infusion of engineering into science instruction; you would need a separate instrument to assess the quality of that underlying science instruction
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Engineering-Infused Lesson Rubric is an instrument that assesses the integration of engineering into science. It contains 12 items divided into three sections (labeled A1-C3): curriculum materials, design-centered teacher practices, and engagement with engineering concepts. The first section…Continuing Motivation Survey
Expert NotesStrengths:Measures not only engagement but avoidance, enabling differentiation between lack of interest and active disengagement.
Cautions:Mentions of media types where students might encounter science content need updating (e.g. magazine subscriptions)
Take care when scoring: Some items are reverse-coded.
Not to be used as a diagnostic for individuals.
If you want to use it for ages other than late elementary/middle, verify its reliability and validity with those other age groups first.
Doesn't make sense with populations who don't have internet access.
Zoos, nature hikes, and natural history museums are left out of the survey items because they weren't relevant to the population originally tested on
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Continuing Motivation Survey (CMS) is a survey that assesses students' engagement with science content outside of school. It is composed of 19 instruments, and studies students' motivation around science education outside of school and school-mandated education.The term "continuing motivation"…Computationally Intensive Science Career Interests (CISCI) Instrument
Expert NotesStrengths:Well suited for examining whether computationally rich science activities are associated with changes in students’ career interests
Cautions:Targets computationally intensive science careers and thus is less useful for studies examining general STEM career interests
Relies on self-report rather than actual course-taking decisions or career trajectories
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Computationally Intensive Science Career Interests Instrument (CISCI) is an instument that explores middle school students' interests in disciplines and careers requiring both traditional scientific knowledge and computer science (CS)-related understanding and skills. It contains 5 constucts or…Teaching Matter Content Knowledge Assessment for Preservice Elementary Teachers
Expert NotesStrengths:Includes both SMK (Subject Matter Knowledge) and PCK (Pedagogical Content Knowledge)
Cautions:Not validated for use with high-stakes decision making, e.g. part of requirements for teachers to graduate from teacher prep program
No psychometric evidence to support reporting scores broken down by content area
Topics: Teacher and Leader DevelopmentTags: Science educationThe Teaching Matter Content Knowledge Assessment for Preservice Elementary Teachers is designed to measure future elementary teachers’ understanding of matter and its interactions. It focuses on content knowledge for teaching (CKT)—a combination of subject matter knowledge and the ability to apply…Behaviors, Related Attitudes, and Intentions Toward Science (BRAINS) Survey
Expert NotesStrengths:Suitable for cross-sectional designs (alternative study design to longitudinal in which individuals at different ages or grade levels are compared on the variable of interest) Grounded in a robust theoretical framework (drawn from the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior (TRAPB))
Cautions:Self-report and some items ask students to predict what they will do much later (e.g. I will study science if I get into a university)
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Behaviors, Related Attitudes, and Intentions Toward Science (BRAINS) Survey is a student survey that measures how young people think about and engage with science. It was created to offer a clearer way to study students’ interest in science and their motivation to take part in scientific…Assessment of Scientific Argumentation in the Classroom (ASAC) Observation Protocol
Expert NotesStrengths:The structure of the learning activity is also assessed with this instrument in the sense that activities that don't encourage scientific argumentation will score lower on the instrument.
Useful for PD--training teachers to use the observation protocol would equip them with a better understanding of what counts as high-quality scientific argumentation can be used in longitudinal studies, comparison studies, and efficacy studies
Cautions:Only analyzes one episode of argumentation at a time, so gathering data at multiple points will be key for making broad interpretations
Topics:Tags: Learning environmentsThe Assessment of Scientific Argumentation in the Classroom (ASAC) Observation Protocol is an observation tool used to assess how students engage in scientific argumentation during classroom activities. Rather than testing individual knowledge, the ASAC focuses on how students discuss, question,…