The Reliability and Construct Validity of Scores on the Six-Factor Dosc (Dimensions of Self-Concept) Scale for College Students

Abstract

The Dimensions of Self-Concept (DOSC)-Form H purports to measure academic self-concept of college students. The current DOSC-Form H consists of five subscales representing five hypothesized factors of academic self-concept. In this study, a sixth factor was added. The twofold purpose was to (a) examine the reliability and construct validity of scores on the six-factor DOSC-Form H as administered to a sample of 350 midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy and (b) compare scores on the DOSC-Form H by the subjects’ years at the academy academic major, and gender. The reliability tests indicated satisfactory reliability for scores on each of the six subscales of the DOSC-Form H. The confirmatory factor analyses resulted in an oblique six-factor model that supported multidimensionality of the DOSC-Form H. Comparison of scores by demographic variables indicated statistically significant difference in scores on the Academic Interest and Satisfaction subscale between genders and across academic majors.

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