Research outcome expectations questionnaire: Validation in undergraduate Hispanic students Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • Research Outcome Expectations (ROE) are critical motivational factors for engaging in research. However, little is known about ROE among Hispanic undergraduates, a population for whom research training often differs linguistically, geographically, and culturally from the Anglo contexts in which the ROEQ was initially developed. This study validated the Research Outcome Expectations Questionnaire ¿ Short (ROEQS) among 358 Peruvian undergraduates (72.2 % female, mostly psychology majors) at a private university in Metropolitan Lima. The study examined the ROEQS's internal structure (dimensionality, measurement invariance, and reliability) and associations with external variables. The ROEQS demonstrated congeneric unidimensionality, with minimal Differential Item Functioning (DIF) across sex, semester, and failed courses. Internal consistency reliability was robust (¿ > 0.90), with maximum conditional reliability at the medium score level. As hypothesized, ROE correlated positively with perceived research competence, while associations with satisfaction with studies, life satisfaction, and sociodemographic variables (sex, age, failed courses, semesters) were negligible. These findings provide validity evidence for the ROEQS in a novel educational context, supporting its use to assess research engagement expectations among Hispanic undergraduates. First, broader ROEQS implementation in universities could inform strategies to strengthen students' motivation and participation in research. Second, the stability of the ROEQS internal structure suggests it may be a promising tool for cross-cultural comparisons of ROE across diverse educational contexts. Third, findings indicate that the ROEQS may also function as a diagnostic tool to inform interventions¿such as mentoring programs and faculty training¿that foster more effective research participation practices among undergraduates. © 2025 The Authors

publication date

  • November 1, 2025