Construction and Validation of the School Environment Scale for English (SESE)

Abstract

Overview: This study introduces the School Environment Scale for English (SESE), a rigorously developed instrument designed to assess environmental factors influencing English language learning within school settings. The scale was developed based on established theoretical frameworks of the school environment and refined through empirical validation methodologies.
Methodology: This Descriptive research involved a multiphase process encompassing item generation, expert review, pilot testing, and comprehensive statistical analysis. Data were collected from samples of 100 and 296 secondary students for item analysis and reliability testing of the scale.
Results: Internal consistency measures demonstrated strong reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.909, split-half approach= 0.876), with subscale coefficients ranging from 0.516 to 0.768. The final scale has 38 items in five dimensions: (1) Infrastructure and English Exposure at School, (2) English Teacher’s Support and Interaction, (3) English Teaching-Learning Process, (4) Classmates Influence on English Learning, and (5) Technology and Internet Uses for English Learning.
Findings: The findings highlight the importance of a well-supported school environment in facilitating English language acquisition and underscore the SESE’s utility as a diagnostic tool for educators and policymakers.
Suggestion: By providing a validated framework tailored to English learning contexts, the SESE advances both theoretical understanding and practical application in educational measurements. Future research could extend the scope of the SESE through predictive validation, cross-cultural adaptation, application to different school subjects, longitudinal studies, and comparative studies to strengthen its global relevance.