Engineering Role identity scale for women in professional contexts

Engineering identity research has largely focused on students, leaving professional practice underexplored. Existing engineering identity instruments were developed primarily for academic settings, where social roles, recognition, and expectations for professional practice differ from those experienced by practicing engineers. Because these features underpin the operationalization of engineering identity, student-focus instruments may not adequately capture identity in professional settings. These limitations are compounded in Spanish-speaking contexts, where no validated instrument for practicing engineers currently exists. This study addresses these limitations by developing and gathering validity evidence for the Engineering Role Identity Scale for Professionals (ERISP) among Colombian women engineers. The instrument captures three dimensions of engineering identity: interest, performance/competence, and recognition. Factor analyses supported a three-factor structure with strong reliability. Structural equation modelling provided evidence of predictive validity. This work provides a psychometrically sound scale for practicing engineers that enables workforce analysis, evaluation of organizational interventions, and research on professional persistence.