Validation of a Classroom Climate Inventory for Use at the Early Elementary Level

Abstract

A classroom climate measure that can be used at the early elementary school level was validated on a sample of 129 children in five primary classes. This measure consists of five scales assessing aspects of the classroom social climate such as Satisfaction and Cohesiveness. Item analysis was used to identify items, the removal of which would improve internal consistency and discriminant validity of the five scales. Scales modified in this way were then administered to a cross-validation sample of 189 primary children. Data relating to the concurrent validity of scales were also gathered. These validating procedures indicated that the instrument is a potentially quite useful device for assessing pupils' perceptions of the classroom social environment.