Validation of the Critical Reflection and Agency in Computing Index: Do Computing Ethics Courses Make a Difference?

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2506.06193v1
• Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:53:30 GMT
• Title: Validation of the Critical Reflection and Agency in Computing Index: Do Computing Ethics Courses Make a Difference?
• Authors: Aadarsh Padiyath, Casey Fiesler, Mark Guzdial, Barbara Ericson,
• Abstract summary: We provide evidence for the validity of the Critical Reflection and Agency in Computing Index.<n>Our psychometric analyses demonstrate distinct dimensions of ethical development and show strong reliability and construct validity.
• Score: 6.714929905379292
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: Computing ethics education aims to develop students' critical reflection and agency. We need validated ways to measure whether our efforts succeed. Through two survey administrations (N=474, N=464) with computing students and professionals, we provide evidence for the validity of the Critical Reflection and Agency in Computing Index. Our psychometric analyses demonstrate distinct dimensions of ethical development and show strong reliability and construct validity. Participants who completed computing ethics courses showed higher scores in some dimensions of ethical reflection and agency, but they also exhibited stronger techno-solutionist beliefs, highlighting a challenge in current pedagogy. This validated instrument enables systematic measurement of how computing students develop critical consciousness, allowing educators to better understand how to prepare computing professionals to tackle ethical challenges in their work.

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