The Validity and the Reliability Study of A Cyber Victimization/Bullying Scale For University Students

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to develop a cyber victimization/bullying scale for university students and to test the validity and reliability of the scale. In the first step of this study, the validity and reliability of the cyber victimization scale were tested. The first study sample consisted of 486 university students, 320 (65.8%) female, and 166 (34.2%) male. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, a 6-factor structure was obtained. The identified subscales for the victimization form were "substitution, verbal teasing, social exclusion, disclosure, cyber victimization with sexual content, anonymous cyber victimization," The total Cronbach's alpha for the victimization form was .81. In the second step, a parallel bully form was created with the same items. The second study sample consisted of 208 university students, 130 (62.5%) female, and 78 (37.5%) male. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, a similar 6-factor structure was obtained. The identified subscales for the bullying form were "substitution, verbal teasing, social excluding, disclosure, cyberbullying with sexual content, and anonymous cyberbullying." The total Cronbach's alpha for the bullying form was .93. The results of exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis indicated that the cyber victimization/bullying scale was a qualified scale that could be preferred in scientific studies conducted with university students.