The Factor Structure and Predictive Validity of Burbach'S University Alienation Scale

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the dimensionality, discriminant, and predictive validities of a 15-item version of Burbach's University Alienation Scale. A total of 228 graduate students completed a questionnaire containing measures of alienation, commitment, locus of control, perceived likelihood of leaving, and withdrawal cognitions. Based on the partial identification numbers that they furnished voluntarily, follow-up data were obtained on the status of 121 respondents 12 months later. The findings confirmed the three-factor structure of the Burbach Alienation Scale but indicated that two of its items should be deleted. Based on confirmatory factor analytic results and correlations with locus of control, alienation and affective commitment appear to be distinct constructs. Although alienation failed to correlate with graduate student attrition after 12 months (p > .05), commitment, perceived likelihood of leaving, and withdrawal cognitions did (r = -.36, .52, and .24, respectively, p < .005, one-tailed). Contrary to the popular assumption, minority graduate students at this predominantly White university did not report higher levels of alienation (p > .05).

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Allen, N. J. , & Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organization. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63, 1-18.

Burbach, H. J. (1972). The development of a contextual measure of alienation. Pacific Sociological Review, 15, 225-234.

Burbach, H. , & Thompson, M. A. (1971). A note on alienation, race, and college attrition. Psychological Reports, 33, 273-274.

Calabrese, R. L. (1990). The public school: A source of alienation for minority parents. Journal of Negro Education, 59, 148-154.

Carmines, E. , & McIver, J. (1981). Analyzing models with unobserved variables: Analysis of covariance structures. In G. Bohrnstedt & E. Borgatta (Eds.), Social measurement: Current issues (pp. 65-116). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Dean, D. (1961). Alienation: Its meaning and measurement. American Sociological Review, 26, 753-758.

Downs, A. C. (1991). Objective and subjective physical attractiveness correlates of adult social alienation. Psychology, 28, 11-16.

Hensley, D. R. , Hensley, W. E. , & Munro, H. P. (1975). Factor structure of Dean's Alienation Scale among college students. Psychological Reports, 37, 555-561.

Joreskog, K. G. , & Sorbom, D. (1989). LISREL VII [Computer program]. Mooresville, IN: Scientific Software.

10.

Loo, C. M. , & Rolison, G. (1986). Alienation of ethnic minority students at a predominantly White university. Journal of Higher Education, 57, 58-77.

11.

Mathieu, J. E. , & Zajac, D. (1990). A review and meta-analysis of the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of organizational commitment. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 171-194.

12.

Meyer, J. P. , & Allen, N. J. (1984). Testing the "side-bet theory" of organizational commitment: Some methodological considerations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 69, 372-378.

13.

Mowday, R. T. , Porter, L. , & Steers, R. (1982). Organizational linkages: The psychology of commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. New York: Academic Press.

14.

Moyer, T. R. , & Motta, R. W. (1982). Alienation and school adjustment among Black and White adolescents. Journal of Psychology, 112, 21-28.

15.

Nottingham, C. R. , Rosen, D. H. , & Parks, C. (1992). Psychological well-being among African American university students. Journal of College Student Development, 33, 356-362.

16.

Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80(609) [whole issue].

17.

Schram, J. L. , & Lauver, P. J. (1988). Alienation in international students. Journal of College Student Development, 29, 146-150.

18.

Suen, H. K. (1983). Alienation and attrition of Black college students on a predominantly White campus. Journal of College Student Personnel, 24, 117-121.