One self-assessment questionnaire that can be modified for peer- or student-evaluations is TPACK )technology, pedagogy and content knowledge. The official websites contains research and practical applications of competency assessments in all disciplines.

You can check the meta-analysis done by Pahlke et al. on the single-sex vs. coeducational schooling debate. One of the criteria for choosing papers was performance on math and science, as well as attitudes towards these fields. Also they worked with occupational aspirations. You can check the papers they worked with.

Pahlke, E., Hyde, J. S., & Allison, C. M. (2014). The Effects of Single-Sex Compared With Coeducational Schooling on Students’ Performance and Attitudes: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin. doi: 10.1037/a0035740

Carol Dweck and others working in the Academic Motivation field, mostly Goal Orientation research often based  in Mathematics classrooms, have used competence. A useful reference text would be

Elliot, A. J. and C. S. Dweck (2005).  Handbook of Competence and Motivation.  New York, NY, The Guilford Press.

I'm involved in several STEM projects, currently we are developing STEM competenties or goals for teacher education (primary education) in Flanders.

I was involved in a seventh framework research project about creativity in science and mathematics education in the early years. In this project we designed (through curriculum design research) competenties for teacher education as well, and we analysed also policy documents in 9 coutries about science and mathematics; Not exactly STEM. You will find all the deliverables on - You will find reviews as well in workpackage 2.

www.creative-little-scientists.eu

The file in attachment is a document which I found about STEM education (there is not much research done, specific on STEM); W

We wrote a review for the Flemish board of education about STEM education and screened, analysed about 600 research articles and books. Focus is on science, or technology or mathematics, but not  on STEM as such. Unfortunately this review is in Dutch. It is used to develop a STEM reflection instrument for teachers. Also in Dutch.

www.stemopschool.be

In an effort to enhance retention and graduation rates of students in STEM disciplines, the Center for Promoting STEM Education and Research (CPSER) will provide tutorial services for students enrolled in 100 & 200 level biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics courses. Individual and group tutoring will be available for students requesting assistance.

EXAMPLES Student Projects

http://www.uncfsu.edu/cpser/resources

Our research team has two survey-based, self-assessments of interdisciplinary competence in engineering and contextual competence in engineering designed for undergraduate engineering majors (US).  The first is published in the International Journal of Engineering Education, the second is forthcoming in the January issue of the Journal of Engineering Education.

Lattuca, L. R., Knight, D. B., Bergom, I. (2013). Developing a Measure of Interdisciplinary Competence. International Journal of Engineering Education, 29 (3), 726-739.

Ro, H. K., Merson, D., Lattuca, L. R., & Terenzini, P.T. (forthcoming, January 2015). Validity of a Measure of the Contextual Competence of Engineering Students. Journal of Engineering Education.

Thank you for your answers. It is inspiring to see what people do.

However, I am mostly interested in empirical studies on research competence and its development. I.e. knowledge and skills are involved in conducting studies in STEM education.

Thank you again for your interest and help,

Hi Igor

Unfortunately, anglophone scientific literature is not yet TAGGED on the COMPETENCE concept. in STEM, you will find many paper with other labels : skills, inquiry-based learning, ...I think you mainly need to explore the Problem-based learning litterature, like this article : doi:10.1111/j.1365-2929.2005.02107.x

If you have some french friends, francophne literature is easier, mainly about "approche par compétence"

Dear Igor,

I agree with Patrick. Most probably you will find also information if you use the keywords higher-order thinking skills, these skills are on a meta level, and are necessary to foster in education, however this is not easy, it is not learning the OVUR method or another method it is about critical thinking, innovative thinking, creative thinking, ... There is already some litterature about it, also in the domain of Engineering and STES (S = Society or sustainability). However, these skills are not easy to measure, it is like measuring understandings of Nature of Science. You need open questions, observations, ... Qualiativ research methods, triangulation, ...

Hilde

try here: http://www.stemedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/STEM-Education-Primer.pdf

http://www.stemreports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/NRC_STEM_2.pdf

http://www.acq.osd.mil/rd/organization/stem.html

Maybe you should try to Google the MEd and PhD dissertations of Piera Biccard. Regards.

Recently I worked for this topic. Title is "Identifying 21st Century STEM Competencies Using Workplace Data"

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10956-015-9593-1?wt_mc=internal.event.1.SEM.ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst