Korean Negative Outcome Expectations Scale–Engineering (K–NOES–E): Cross-Cultural Validation With Korean Women Engineering Students

The present study aimed to validate the Negative Outcome Expectations Scale-Engineering (NOES-E; Lee et al., 2018) among a sample of Korean women engineering students. The NOES-E assesses four components of negative outcome expectations in engineering: cultural-related stressors, personal life and work balance, job characteristics, and social costs. In the present study, an exploratory factor analysis ( n = 351) was conducted, and the results supported the original four-factor structure, although one item was removed. Confirmatory factor analysis ( n = 355) indicated that the bifactor model provided the best fit to the data. The measurement invariance test further showed that the Korean version of Negative Outcome Expectations Scale-Engineering (K-NOES-E) was equivalent across university location and income. In addition, convergent, discriminant, concurrent, and incremental validity were supported. These findings suggest that the K-NOES-E is a useful instrument for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand negative outcome expectations among Korean women engineering students.