Examining the psychometric properties of the happy school scale

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in Educational Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil- Iran.

2 Professor of Educational Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil- Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor of Educational Management, Department of Educational Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil- Iran.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity, reliability and factor structure of the happy school questionnaire in primary school students. The statistical population of this research included all elementary school students of district one of Ardabil city in the academic year of 2022-2023 (30,687) of which 380 students were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. Depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) and Oxford happiness Inventory (OHI) were used to calculate convergent and diagnostic validity. Construct validity was investigated through confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability using Cronbach's alpha method and retesting and data analysis with S. software. P. S. S. Version 25 and Lisrel version 8/8 were done. The results of confirmatory factor analysis, like the original form, confirmed 2 factors of happiness at school and dissatisfaction at school. Also, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole scale was equal to 0.81, and for the subscales of happiness at school and dissatisfaction at school, it was equal to 0.86 and 0.80, respectively. In addition, the retest coefficient with an interval of four weeks was 0.74 for the whole questionnaire and 0.70 and 0.74 for the subscales of happiness at school and dissatisfaction at school, respectively. Also, the correlation coefficients indicated the convergent and diagnostic validity of the questionnaire (P<0.001). According to the obtained results, it can be said that the happy school questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for measuring the happy school in primary school students.

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