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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).

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

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