A Brazilian Portuguese survey of school climate: Evidence of validity and reliability

Abstract

This study presents evidence of the validity and reliability of scores for the newly developed Brazilian Portuguese version of the Delaware School Climate Survey–Student (Brazilian DSCS-S). The sample consisted of 378 students, grades 5 through 9, attending four private and three public schools in southern Brazil. Confirmatory factor analyses supported both a bifactor model and a six-factor model, but support was stronger for the latter. Most scores across factors correlated significantly with students’ self-reported cognitive-behavioral and emotional engagement in school. As discussed, the Brazilian DSCS-S provides schools with a useful tool for conducting needs assessments and evaluating programs in Brazilian schools.