Safe Learning Environment Perception Scale (SLEPS): A Validity and Reliability Study

Authors : Sayed Masood HAİDARİ, Fazilet KARAKUŞ

Pages : 444-460

Doi:10.21449/ijate.550393

View : 24 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2019-10-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The purpose of this study was to develop and cross-validate a measurement scale on students’ perception of a psychologically safe learning environment in the Turkish context. Primarily, the scale items underwent two rounds of expert review. Then, a series of item elimination or revisions were performed to improve their relevance to the content domain and their comprehensibility for the target group according to the CVI and modified kappa statistics. The results yielded a strong content validity and clarity of the items. Then, the exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis were performed based on the data from 556 secondary school students insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(grade 5-8);, which suggested a three-factor solution. The KMO was 0.942 > 0.50 with significant Bartlett test values, x2insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(496); = 8295.592, p < 0.001 and the explained total variance was 50.622 %. Each item had a factor loading of > 0.58 with > 0.40 common correlations. To validate this structure, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted based on the data from a different group of students insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(N = 339);. The goodness of fit indices, factor loadings, and the t statistics supported a good-fitting measurement model, x2insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(N = 339); = 925.29, df = 461, p < 0.001; x2/df = 2, NFI = 0.94, NNFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.069, RMSEA = 0.055. The convergent and discriminant validity were also supported. In general, the SLEPS has potential applicability both at the lower and upper secondary schools insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(public and private); and at the educational centers for the gifted.
Keywords : Psychological safety, Emotional safety, Classroom environment, Relationships, Validity, Reliability