TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of the Perceived Sense of School Membership Scale
T2 - A South African Version
AU - Cowden, Richard G.
AU - Govender, Kaymarlin
AU - Oppong Asante, Kwaku
AU - Reardon, Candice
AU - George, Gavin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, © The Author(s) 2016.
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - This study explored the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Perceived Sense of School Membership (PSSM-18) Scale in two samples of South African adolescents. Principal components analysis (n = 1,052; males = 50.86%, Mage = 14.89, SD = 1.68) supported the retention of 15 items across a revised, three-factor structure of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion (PSSM–South African version [PSSM-SA]). Confirmatory factor analysis (n = 1,418; males = 49.86%, Mage = 14.93, SD = 1.70) provided an acceptable level of fit for the PSSM-SA. The structure was found to be invariant across sex, age, and poverty quintile groupings. Follow-up group comparisons showed selected scales were able to discriminate between groups and predicted alcohol and substance use, and the mean inter-item correlations indicated each scale possessed an appropriate level of internal consistency. The findings suggest the PSSM-SA is a valid and reliable measure of school belonging among South African high school–age children.
AB - This study explored the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Perceived Sense of School Membership (PSSM-18) Scale in two samples of South African adolescents. Principal components analysis (n = 1,052; males = 50.86%, Mage = 14.89, SD = 1.68) supported the retention of 15 items across a revised, three-factor structure of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion (PSSM–South African version [PSSM-SA]). Confirmatory factor analysis (n = 1,418; males = 49.86%, Mage = 14.93, SD = 1.70) provided an acceptable level of fit for the PSSM-SA. The structure was found to be invariant across sex, age, and poverty quintile groupings. Follow-up group comparisons showed selected scales were able to discriminate between groups and predicted alcohol and substance use, and the mean inter-item correlations indicated each scale possessed an appropriate level of internal consistency. The findings suggest the PSSM-SA is a valid and reliable measure of school belonging among South African high school–age children.
KW - South Africa
KW - adolescents
KW - school belonging
KW - school membership
KW - validation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030681579&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0734282916678495
DO - 10.1177/0734282916678495
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85030681579
SN - 0734-2829
VL - 36
SP - 411
EP - 417
JO - Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
JF - Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
IS - 4
ER -