The Validation of Classroom Emotional Climate Questionnaire and Gender Differences in STEM Classrooms

• In Event: Current Research in Learning Environments: Impact of Remote Learning, Learning Spaces, and Student Perception Tools

Abstract

This paper reports on the development and validation of a Classroom Emotional Climate (CEC) questionnaire. After pilot testing with focus groups, the CEC questionnaire was administered to 698 high school students from 57 STEM classrooms in 20 schools. Principal Component and Confirmatory Factor Analyses led to a 41 item questionnaire with seven scales. Internal consistency reliability, concurrent validity, discriminant validity and predictive validity showed satisfactory results. The structure of the questionnaire was further confirmed through Rasch Analyses. This paper discusses ways in which the CEC questionnaire can be fruitfully used to understand the classroom emotional climate, for instance to probe gender differences in STEM classrooms in government and non-government schools.

Authors

• Rekha Bhan Koul, Curtin University
  Presenting Author

• Felicity McLure, Charles Darwin University
  Presenting Author

• Barry J. Fraser, Curtin University
  Non-Presenting Author