Date Approved
9-8-2025
Embargo Period
9-8-2027
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. Engineering
Department
Engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Advisor
Justin Major, Ph.D.
Committee Member 1
Stephanie Farrell, Ph.D.
Committee Member 2
Katlin Mallouk, Ph.D.
Committee Member 3
Luz Karime Abadía, Ph.D.
Committee Member 4
Allison Godwin, Ph.D.
Keywords
Engineering Identity;Gender equity in engineering;Scale adaptation;Structural equation modeling;Turnover intentions;Women engineers
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Women's Studies
Abstract
Women remain underrepresented and face persistent challenges in engineering professions, with high attrition undermining diversity and innovation. Understanding factors driving attrition is key to designing interventions that promote retention. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory, Engineering Identity, and Career Change Theory, this dissertation developed and tested a theoretical model of engineers’ turnover intentions using data from Colombian women engineers, a group facing systemic barriers that impact their career trajectories. Three studies were conducted. Study 1 translated and culturally adapted five scales into Spanish, including Engineering Role Identity, and developed a new scale on Outcome Expectations. Study 2 tested psychometric properties of ten scales through factor analyses. Study 3 tested the theoretical model using structural equation modeling to examine how personal and organizational factors interact to influence turnover intentions. Results show Engineering Identity, Outcome Expectations, Career satisfaction and Organizational Support negatively predicted turnover intentions. Conversely, organizational barriers weakened those protective factors, linking discrimination, bias, and work-family conflict to attrition risk. This dissertation contributes to engineering education research and career development theory while offering tools for organizations and policymakers to build inclusive environments that support the persistence of women engineers and advance gender diversity in engineering.
Recommended Citation
Cano Morales, Martha Lucia, "Intentions of Attrition of Colombian Women in Engineering: A Quantitative Analysis of Organizational, Career and Identity Factors" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3448.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3448
