School STEM Culture--an aspect of culture within a school community--is defined as the beliefs, values, practices, and resources in STEM fields as perceived by students, parents, teachers, and administrators and counselors within a school. This study validates the STEM Culture Assessment Tool (STEM-CAT), an instrument intended to advance the use…

This article provides a brief introduction to the set of four articles in the special issue. To provide a foundation for the issue, key terms are defined, a brief historical overview of validity is provided, and a description of several different validation approaches used in the issue are explained. Finally, the contribution of the articles to…

This note discusses the merits of coefficient alpha and their conditions in light of recent critical publications that miss out on significant research findings over the past several decades. That earlier research has demonstrated the empirical relevance and utility of coefficient alpha under certain empirical circumstances. The article highlights…

Sample representativeness is an important piece to consider when evaluating the quality of a screening assessment. If you are trying to determine whether or not the screening tool accurately measures children's skills, you want to ensure that the sample that is used to validate the tool is representative of your population of interest.

The current study sought out to advance the Social Self-Efficacy and Social Outcome Expectations scale using multiple approaches to scale development. Data from 583 undergraduate students were used in two scale development approaches: Classic Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT). Confirmatory factor analysis suggested a 2-factor…

There is a clear need for highly competent health sciences experts. No instrument currently exists for assessing the generic competences of health sciences students. The aim of this study is to develop and psychometrically test the Health sciences Generic Competence (HealthGenericCom) instrument. The instrument development four step process has…

Despite the importance of academic reading in higher education, the current literature lacks a valid instrument comprising different components of academic reading at a graduate level. This article reports on the development of an academic reading instrument for (Iranian) MA students of applied linguistics. To this end, based on a thorough review…

Neurodiversity refers to the idea that all brains--no matter their differences--are valuable and should be accepted. Attitudes toward the neurodiversity perspective can have real-life impacts on the lives of neurodivergent people, from effects on daily interactions to how professionals deliver services for neurodivergent individuals. In order to…

We investigated environmental supports, an understudied aspect of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), with rural Appalachian youth, an understudied population. We developed a new measure of proximal influences that bolster the pursuit of postsecondary education, the Assessment of Postsecondary Supports (APSS). Across 3 studies, we develop and…

Administrative data are increasingly being used to study inequalities in education. Yet a well-known difficulty with such resources is the limited information they hold. A commonly used proxy for children coming from a low-income background is their eligibility for free school meals, yet this is likely to be of little use in measuring academic…

This article reports on the development and validation of the Instrumental Practice Goal Realization Inventory (IPGRI) designed to assess the process of self-directed study, beginning with setting the intention to practice and ending with the evaluation of one's performance. This new tool is based on the theoretical model of action phases. The…

In today's fast-paced ICT-driven world, understanding the factors influencing the effectiveness of online teaching and learning is paramount, especially during the Movement Control Order (MCO) when physical educational activities are restricted. Assessing the efficacy of undergraduate students under these circumstances can be particularly…

In this study, it was aimed to develop an achievement test taking into account the subject acquisitions of the sound and properties unit in the sixth-grade science course. In the test development phase, firstly, literature review for the study was conducted. Then, 30 multiple choice questions in align with the subject acquisition in the 2018…

The study aims to assess online assessment practices in a public university, addressing questions about self-efficacy levels, tools used, challenges faced, and proposed solutions. The chosen methodology employs a cross-sectional survey design, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 50 instructors in Türkiye through a convenience…

Sustainability actions in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) profoundly affect students, employees and their communities. These aim at social and economic benefits for local communities. Sustainability must be measured, and its goals must be achieved as part of the university's mission to impact the community significantly. This work provides…