ERIC Number: EJ1080151
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Multilevel Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity of the Teacher Version of the Authoritative School Climate Survey
Huang, Francis L.; Cornell, Dewey G.; Konold, Timothy; Meyer, Joseph P.; Lacey, Anna; Nekvasil, Erin K.; Heilbrun, Anna; Shukla, Kathan D.
Journal of School Health, v85 n12 p843-851 Dec 2015
Background: School climate is well recognized as an important influence on student behavior and adjustment to school, but there is a need for theory-guided measures that make use of teacher perspectives. Authoritative school climate theory hypothesizes that a positive school climate is characterized by high levels of disciplinary structure and student support. Methods: A teacher version of the Authoritative School Climate Survey (ASCS) was administered to a statewide sample of 9099 7th- and 8th-grade teachers from 366 schools. The study used exploratory and multilevel confirmatory factor analyses (MCFA) that accounted for the nested data structure and allowed for the modeling of the factor structures at 2 levels. Results: Multilevel confirmatory factor analyses conducted on both an exploratory (N?=?4422) and a confirmatory sample (N?=?4677) showed good support for the factor structures investigated. Factor correlations at 2 levels indicated that schools with greater levels of disciplinary structure and student support had higher student engagement, less teasing and bullying, and lower student aggression toward teachers. Conclusions: The teacher version of the ASCS can be used to assess 2 key domains of school climate and associated measures of student engagement and aggression toward peers and teachers.
Descriptors: Educational Environment, Teacher Attitudes, Theories, Discipline, Teacher Surveys, Grade 7, Grade 8, Factor Analysis, Correlation, Learner Engagement, Student Needs, Bullying, Aggression, Student Behavior
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Grade 8
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2012JFFX0062
Author Affiliations: N/A

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