Factor Analysis of Structural Equation Modeling for the Instructional Design of Laboratory Courses in Engineering Fields

Subject Areas :

Mohammad Khalili ¹ , ali akbar khosravi babadi ^{2 *} , عباس خورشیدی ³ , فاطمه حمیدی فر ⁴

1 - department of higher education accredited. Faculty Of Psychology And Social Sciences.Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch
2 - Curriculum. Psychology and Educational sciences, Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
3 - گروه مدیریت آموزشی،دانشکده علوم تربیتی، واحد اسلامشهر، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
4 - گروه مدیریت آموزشی، دانشگاه آزاد تهران مرکزی، تهران، ایران

Received: 2025-07-29 Accepted : 2025-09-20 Published : 2025-09-21

Keywords: Engineering education, practical courses, curriculum, higher education,

Abstract :

This study aims to evaluate an effective curriculum delivery model for laboratory courses in engineering programs within higher education institutions. This research is applied in purpose, quantitative in data, and conducted as a cross-sectional survey. The participant pool consisted of undergraduate engineering students, with a random sample of 388 students selected for this study. Model fit was assessed using several indices: the chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio, the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), the Incremental Fit Index (IFI), and the Goodness of Fit Index (GFI). Findings indicated that the model was perceived favorably by students, with a satisfactory fit. Specifically, the RMSEA was 0.08, and the GFI was 0.8, both demonstrating acceptable levels of model fit. Additionally, the IFI at 0.96 and the chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio at 1.46 reflect students' positive evaluation of the curriculum delivery model. These results suggest that the proposed model is well-suited to support the effective delivery of laboratory courses in engineering education, meeting both students' expectations and academic standards for applied instruction.

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