Assessing students’ perceptions of fit between secondary and higher education: a validation study of the SPFQ
(2020) Higher Education Research and Development — Vol. 39, n° 2, p. 273-287 (2020)
Files
LCoertjensvanpetegemendonche2019_HERD.docx
Open Access - Microsoft Word XML
- 114.29 KB
Details
- Authors
Noyens, D. 
van Daal, T. Van Petegem, P. Donche, V.
- Abstract
- Supporting first-year students to adjust to their new academic environment is a crucial task in higher education. Investigating students’ perceptions of fit between secondary and higher education could give higher education institutions valuable information for student feedback and support, when captured in a reliable and valid way. This study examines the construct validity, reliability and criterion-related validity of the Students’ Perceived Fit Questionnaire (SPFQ) by using a longitudinal dataset (N = 930, first-year students). The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure measuring students’ perceptions of: 1) the extent to which secondary education prepared them for higher education in terms of content knowledge; 2) resemblance in the teaching approach between secondary and higher education and 3) the need to adapt to their higher education study programme. Concerning the criterion-related validity, it was found that first-year students who experience similarities in teaching approach are more likely to persist in their studies. Furthermore, our results indicated that first-year students who experienced less need to adapt to their higher education study programme felt more self-efficacious regarding their own learning and, consequently, were more likely to persist in their studies.
- Affiliations
Citations
Noyens, D., van Daal, T., Coertjens, L., Van Petegem, P., & Donche, V. (2020). Assessing students’ perceptions of fit between secondary and higher education: a validation study of the SPFQ. Higher Education Research and Development, 39(2), 273-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1662377 (Original work published 2020)