Measuring Sustainable Innovation Literacy The Development and Validation of the Assessment of Sustainable Innovation Literacy (ASIL)

Abstract

In the era of global sustainable development, addressing climate change, resource scarcity,and social equity challenges demands a new interdisciplinary competence—Sustainable Innovation Literacy (SIL)—that integrates environmental science, technological innovation, business sustainability, and social responsibility. While higher education institutions worldwide have launched sustainable innovation programs, a critical gap exists in validly and reliably assessing students’ SIL competencies, as existing tools focus on single-domain knowledge rather than cross-disciplinary integration. This paper details the development and psychometric validation of a novel computer-based instrument, the Assessment of Sustainable Innovation Literacy (ASIL), designed to measure SIL as a multi-dimensional construct. The ASIL was developed through a rigorous three-stage process: (1) initial item construction based on a six-dimensional theoretical framework of SIL derived from sustainable development and innovation literacy research; (2) content and face validity verification via two rounds of expert review (15 experts in environmental science, engineering, sustainable business, and education) and cognitive think-aloud interviews with 20 target students; (3) a pilot
study with 420 undergraduate and graduate students from interdisciplinary sustainable innovation programs, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test construct validity and Cronbach’s Alpha, McDonald’s Omega to evaluate internal consistency. The results show that the ASIL has excellent model fit (χ2/d f = 2.78 , CFI=0.95, TLI=0.93, RMSEA=0.06, SRMR=0.04) and high reliability (overall α = 0.92 , ω = 0.94 ; subscale α = 0.83–0.89). Standardized factor loadings range from 0.61 to 0.87, and moderate inter-factor correlations (0.42–0.68) confirm SIL as a cohesive yet multi-faceted construct. The ASIL is the first psychometrically sound instrument for measuring sustainable innovation literacy, providing educators, researchers, and industry practitioners with a powerful tool to assess, cultivate, and evaluate interdisciplinary sustainable innovation talent. This study advances the theoretical understanding of sustainable innovation literacy and offers empirical support for the design of evidence-based sustainable development education programs.