Psychometrics of the SDQ-I for Palestinian Adolescent Students

Authors

  • Haitham Alkhateeb Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
  • Ramzi Naim Nasser College of Education & Arts, Lusail University, Lusail, Qatar
  • Eiman F Abushihab Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v4i2.4682

Abstract

The Self-description Questionnaire–I (SDQ–I) is a multidimensional instrument that measures eight self-concept facets hypothesized in Shavelson’s hierarchical model. This study investigated self-concept in a sample of Palestinian adolescent students using an Arabic version of the SDQ–I. Three-hundred sixty adolescents (163 girls and 197 boys) aged 13 to 16 years (M = 14.3, SD = .87) participated. The 72-item SDQ–I was administered in four Palestinian schools to assess the psychometric properties of the SDQ–I. This included the factor structure and the internal consistency reliability of the SDQ–I subscales and mean score responses of Palestinian self-concept. Factor analysis results, which accounted for the majority of the variance, supported an underlying general self-concept factor structure that demonstrated the eight factors that the SDQ–I is designed to measure. This is consistent with previous studies in similar age groups and the SDQ– I reliabilities were similar to those reported in the literature. Students perceived total self-concept positively (mean = 3.71). Three facets of self-concept (parent relations, reading, and general self-concept) indicated high positive selfconcept. Correlations among the different dimensions were consistent with the hierarchical structure in Shavelson’s model. Overall, the findings provided compelling support for Shavelson’s model, and the structure validity of Western self-concept measure. Interpretations were provided for the discrepancies regarding the Palestinian-Arab culture.

Keywords:

Self-concept, Adolescent, Palestinian students, Self-description questionnaire

References

[1] Shavelson, R.J., Hubner, J.J., Stanton, G.C., 1976. Self-concept: Validation of construct interpretations. Review of Educational Research. 46(3), 407-441. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1170010

[2] Calhoun, G., Morse, W.C., 1977. Self-concept and self-esteem: Another perspective. Psychology in the Schools. 14(3), 318-322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6807(197707)14:33.0.CO;2-V

[3] Abu-Hilal, M.M., 2010. A structural model of attitudes towards school subjects, academic aspiration and achievement. Educational Psychology. 20(1), 75- 84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/014434100110399

[4] Herrera, L., Al-Lal, M., Mohamed, L., 2020. Academic achievement, self-concept, personality and emotional intelligence in primary education: Analysis by gender and cultural group. Frontiers in Psychology. 10, Article 3075. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03075

[5] Jaiswal, S.K., Choudhuri, R., 2017. Academic self-concept and academic achievement of secondary school students. American Journal of Educational Research. 5(10), 1108-1113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12691/education-5-10-13

[6] Kobal, D., Musek, J., 2001. Self-concept and academic achievement: Slovenia and France. Personality and Individual Differences. 30(5), 887-899. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00081-7

[7] Sewasew, D., Schroeders, U., 2019. The developmental interplay of academic self-concept and achievement within and across domains among primary school students. Contemporary Educational Psychology. 58, 204-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2019.03.009

[8] Stocker, J., Abu-Hilal, M., Hermena, E., et al., 2021. Internal/external frame of reference model and dimensional comparison theory: A novel exploration of their applicability among Arab high school students. Educational Psychology. 41(4), 483-501. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2021.1887455

[9] Susperreguy, M.I., Davis-Kean, P.E., Duckworth, K., et al., 2018. Self-concept predicts academic achievement across levels of the achievement distribution: Domain specificity for math and reading. Child Development. 89(6), 2196-2214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12924

[10] Wolff, F., Nagy, N., Helm, F., et al., 2018. Testing the Internal/External Frame of Reference Model of academic achievement and academic self-concept with open self-concept reports. Learning Instruction. 55, 58-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2017.09.006

[11] Zahra, A.T., Arif, M.H., Yousuf, M.I., 2010. Relationship of academic, physical and social self-concepts of students with their academic achievement. Contemporary Issues in Education Research. 3(3), 73-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19030/cier.v3i3.190

[12] Ghazvini, S.D., 2011. Relationships between academic self-concept and academic performance in high school students. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 15, 1034-1039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.235

[13] Lyon, M.A., 1993. Academic self-concept and its relationship to achievement in a sample of junior high school students. Educational and Psychological Measurement. 53(1), 201-210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164493053001022

[14] Abu-Hilal, M.M., Al-Maamari, S., Al-Harthy, I.S., et al., 2019. Achievement and self-concept relation: An evidence of the adequacy of the I/E model with a short version of the self-description questionnaire-II among school students in Oman. Italian Journal of Sociology of Education. 11(3), 194-211.

[15] Abu-Hilal, M.M., Bahri, T.M., 2000. Self-concept: The generalizability of research on the SDQ, Marsh/ Shavelson Model and I/E Frame of Reference Model to United Arab Emirates students. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal. 28(4), 309- 322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2000.28.4.309

[16] Eshteewe, T., 2016. The self-concept according to gender and academic year for students of department of Physical Education-Palestine Technical University. The Swedish Journal of Scientific Research. 3(4), 38- 43.

[17] Salami, S.O., 2010. Emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, psychological well-being and students’ attitudes: Implications for quality education. European Journal of Educational Studies. 2(3), 247-257.

[18] Chen, S.K., Yeh, Y.C., Hwang, F.M., et al., 2013. The relationship between academic self-concept and achievement: A multicohort-multioccasion study. Learning and Individual Differences. 23, 172-178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2012.07.021

[19] Eccles, J., 2009. Who am I and what am I going to do with my life? Personal and collective identities as motivators of action. Educational Psychologist. 44(2), 78-89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520902832368

[20] Harter, S., 2013. New directions in self-development: Resurrecting the I-self. D. M. McInerney, H. W. Marsh, R. G. Craven, et al. (Eds.), Theory driving research: New wave perspectives on self-processes and human development. Information Age Publishing: Charlotte, North Carolina. pp. 1-30.

[21] Nasir, R., Lin, L.S., 2013. The relationship between self-concept and career awareness amongst students. Asian Social Science. 9(1), 193-197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v9n1p193

[22] Marsh, H.W., Hau, K.T., 2003. Big-fish–little-pond effect on academic self-concept: A cross-cultural (26-country) test of the negative effects of academically selective schools. American Psychologist. 58(5), 364-376. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.58.5.364

[23] Nagengast, B., Marsh, H.W., 2012. Big fish in littleponds aspire more: Mediation and cross-cultural generalizability of school-average ability effects on self-concept and career aspirations in science. Journal of Educational Psychology. 104(4), 1033-1053. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027697

[24] Seaton, M., Marsh, H.W., Craven, R.G., 2010. Bigfish-little-pond effect: Generalizability and moderation-two sides of the same coin. American Educational Research Journal. 47(2), 390-433. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831209350493

[25] Marsh, H.W., Martin, A.J., 2011. Academic self-concept and academic achievement: relations and causal ordering. British Journal of Educational Psychology. 81(1), 59-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1348/000709910X503501

[26] Guo, J., Nagengast, B., Marsh, H.W., et al., 2016. Probing the unique contributions of self-concept, task values, and their interactions using multiple value facets and multiple academic outcomes. AERA Open. 2(1), 1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858415626884

[27] Mejia-Rodriguez, A.M., Luyten, H., Meelissen, M.R.M., 2020. Gender differences in mathematics self-concept across the world: An exploration of student and parent data of TIMSS 2015. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-020-10100-x

[28] Laryea, J.E., Saani, A.J., Dawson-Brew, E., 2014. Influence of students self-concept on their academic performance in the Elmina Township. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences. 2(4), 1-10.

[29] Abu-Hilal, M.M., Al-Maamari, S., Al-Sulaimani, H., 2020. Factor structure of a short version of SDQ-II among Omani school students. International Journal of School & Educational Psychology. 8(sup1), 124- 132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21683603.2019.1572553

[30] Marsh, H.W., 1988. Self-description questionnaire: A theoretical and empirical basis for the measurement of multiple dimensions of preadolescent self-concept: A test manual and a research monograph. The Psychological Corporation: San Antonio, Texas.

[31] Marsh, H.W., Holmes, I.W.M., 1990. Multidimensional self-concepts: Construct validation of responses by children. American Educational Research Journal. 27(1), 89-117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312027001089

[32] Strein, W., 1993. Advances in research on academic self-concept: Implications for school psychology. School Psychology Review. 22(2), 273-284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02796015.1993.12085652

[33] Marsh, H.W., 1992. Content-specificity of relations between academic achievement and academic self-concept. Journal of Educational Psychology. 84(1), 35-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.84.1.35

[34] Marsh, H.W., 1990. The structure of academic self-concept: The Marsh/Shavelson Model. Journal of Educational Psychology. 82(4), 623-636. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.82.4.623

[35] El-Hassan, K., 2004. Structure and correlates of self-concept in Lebanon. International Journal of Testing. 4(1), 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327574ijt0401_1

[36] Kaminski, P.L., Shafer, M.E., Neumann, C.S., et al., 2005. Self-concept in Mexican American girls and boys: Validating the Self-description Questionnaire–I. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. 11(4), 321-338. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1099-9809.11.4.321

[37] Marsh, H.W., Craven, R.G., Debus, R., 1991. Self-concepts of young children 5 to 8 years of age: Measurement and multidimensional structure. Journal of Educational Psychology. 83(3), 377-392. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-0663.83.3.377

[38] Marsh, H.W., Relich, J.D., Smith, I.D., 1983. Self-concept: The construct validity of interpretations based upon the SDQ. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 45(1), 173-187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.45.1.173

[39] Sardouk, R., 1995. The relationship between academic self-concept, academic causal attributions and teacher’s evaluative feedback in a sample of upper elementary private school students [Unpublished master’s thesis]. American University of Beirut: Beirut.

[40] Shihab, L., 1996. Relationships between the adapted self-description questionnaire (SDQ–I) and academic achievement [Unpublished master’s thesis]. American University of Beirut: Beirut.

[41] Hollingshead, A.B., Redlich, F.C., 2007. Social class and mental illness: A community study. American Journal of Public Health. 97(10), 1756-1757. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.97.10.1756

[42] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2011. World Data on Education, UNESCO-IBL-Palestine. Retrieved from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/. (Accessed 10 August 2021).

[43] Ministry of Education and Higher Education, 2021. Publications and Studies. Retrieved from http://www. moehe.gov.ps/general-education/general-education/ Brochures-and-Studies. (Accessed 15 August 2021).

[44] The New York Times, 2021. The Palestinian Authority. New York: The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/topic/organization/the-palestinian-authority. (Accessed 10 August 2021).

[45] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), 2018. Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census 2017. Ramallah: PCBS. Retrieved from http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2364-1.pdf. (Accessed 15 August 2021).

[46] The Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC), 2020. Salfit Governorate: Palestinians Vs Israeli Settlers. Ramallah: JLAC. Retrieved from https://www.jlac.ps/userfiles/Salfit-%20JLAC_pub. pdf. (Accessed 10 August 2021).

[47] The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), 2014. Locality Profiles and Needs Assessment in Salfit Governorate. Bethlehem: ARIJ. Retrieved from https://www.arij.org/files/arijadmin/IDRC/publications/Salfit_English3-7-2015.pdf. (Accessed 10 August 2021).

[48] Marsh, H.W., 1990. A multidimensional, hierarchical model of self-concept: Theoretical and empirical justification. Educational Psychology Review. 2(2), 77- 172. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01322177

[49] Alkhateeb, H.M., 2010. Self-concept in Lebanese and Arab-American pre-adolescents. Psychological Reports. 106(2), 435-447. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/PR0.106.2.435-447

[50] Henson, R.K., 2001. Understanding internal consistency reliability estimates: A conceptual primer on coefficient alpha. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. 34(3), 177-189. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2002.12069034

[51] Streiner, D.L., 2003. Starting at the beginning: an introduction to coefficient alpha and internal consistency. Journal of Personality Assessment. 80(1), 99- 103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327752JPA8001_18

[52] Hair, J.F.Jr., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., et al., 2009. Multivariate data analysis. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

[53] Streiner, D.L., Norman, G.R., 2008. Health measurement scales: A practical guide to their development and use. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

[54] McGuire, B., Tinsley, H.E.A., 1981. A contribution to the construct validity of the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: A confirmatory factor analysis. Applied Psychological Measurement. 5(4), 449-457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/014662168100500402

[55] Koocher, G.P., Norcross, J.C., Greene, B.A., 2013. Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. G. P. Koocher, J. C. Norcross, B. A. Greene (Eds.), Psychologists’ desk reference. Oxford University Press: Oxford. pp. 529-550. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/med:psych/9780199845491.003.0103

[56] Cohen, L.J., 2016. The Handy Psychology Answer Book. Visible Ink Press: Canton, Michigan.

[57] Yong, F.L., 1994. Self-concepts, locus of control, and machiavellianism of ethnically diverse middle school students who are gifted. Roeper Review: A Journal on Gifted Education. 16(3), 192-194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02783199409553571

[58] Bleidorn, W., Arslan, R.C., Denissen, J.J.A., et al., 2016. Age and gender differences in self-esteem – A cross-cultural window. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 111(3), 396-410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/b65sa

[59] Min, M.C., Islam, M.N., Wang, L., et al., 2018. Cross-cultural comparison of university students’ emotional competence in Asia. Current Psychology. 40, 200-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9918-3

[60] Mayer, J.D., Salovey, P., Caruso, D.R., 2012. The validity of the MSCEIT: Additional analyses and evidence. Emotion Review. 4(4), 403-408. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073912445815

[61] Petrides, K.V., Vernon, P.A., Schermer, J.A., et al., 2010. Relationships between trait emotional intelligence and the big five in the Netherlands. Personality and Individual Differences. 48(8), 906-910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.02.019

Downloads

How to Cite

Alkhateeb, H., Nasser, R. N., & Abushihab, E. F. (2022). Psychometrics of the SDQ-I for Palestinian Adolescent Students. Journal of Psychological Research, 4(2), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v4i2.4682

Issue

Article Type

Article