ERIC Number: EJ753767
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 11
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1366-8250
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Students with Mild Disabilities in Regular Classrooms: The Development and Utility of the Student Perceptions of Classroom Support Scale
O'Rourke, John; Houghton, Stephen
Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, v31 n4 p232-242 Dec 2006
Background: There is a dearth of empirical research pertaining to the perceptions of students with mild disabilities of the academic and social outcomes of classroom support mechanisms. The absence of suitable measures is a primary issue contributing to this situation. Method: The present study reports the development and utility of the "Student Perceptions of Classroom Support" (SPCS) scale, which was specifically designed to assess students' perceptions of curricular, instructional, physical, and peer support received in regular classrooms from both an academic and social perspective. The SPCS was administered to 60 secondary school-aged students with mild disabilities who experienced both regular classroom and traditional special education. Results: Person and item discrimination analyses, and calculation of internal consistencies (Cronbach's alpha) revealed the SPCS to have excellent psychometric properties ([alpha]=0.92 for "academic outcomes" and [alpha]=0.87 for overall "social outcomes"). Internal consistencies for each of the subscales are also reported. Conclusions: The SPCS provides educators with a valid method of assessing students' preferred support strategies, which can then be articulated within Individual Education Plans (IEPs). (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Measures (Individuals), Student Attitudes, Psychometrics, Classroom Environment, Mild Disabilities, Inclusive Schools, Mainstreaming, Peer Relationship, Student Needs, Interpersonal Relationship, Secondary School Students, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Test Construction, Test Validity, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A