This research reports the results of an initial study in which the instrument Student Perceptions of Classroom Quality was developed and then administered to a sample of students to allow examination of validity and reliability evidence. Accordingly, exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the construct validity of the scores, and internal consistency alpha reliability estimates were calculated for the 4 factors that were derived from the data. Student Perceptions of Classroom Quality, assesses how high school students perceive their class activities concerning meaning-fulness, challenge, choice, and appeal—constructs clearly tied in the literature to motivation and learning and with their roots of practice found in gifted education programming. Validity and reliability evidence from this pilot study were sufficiently strong, and, thus, this line of research will be continued using a larger national sample in a confirmatory study of the revised version of the instrument that resulted from the present research. Ultimately, this instrument has potential value for those engaged in research or school improvement efforts in both general education and gifted education by providing them a means to assess constructs central to learning and classroom climate from the students’ points of view.
An assessment of the chemistry laboratory learning environments and teacher student interactions at the higher secondary level