Peer Support in Sport Environments Scale: Validity and Reliability Study

Öz

This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale to evaluate the perception of peer support in the sport environments of students competing in school sports. The scale development process comprised literature review, item pooling, expert opinion, pilot application and psychometric analyses. Data were gathered from 494 students for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and 419 students for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA revealed that the scale had a single-factor structure and explained 47.6% of the total variance. CFA analyses supported the construct validity of the scale, and the fit indices of the model were acceptable (χ²/df = 2.19, RMSEA = 0.0532, CFI = 0.981, TLI = 0.974, SRMR = 0.0272). In addition, a two-factor alternative model was also tested; however, it was not preferred because the fit indices were significantly lower than the one-factor model (ΔCFI > .01; ΔRMSEA > .015). As a result of internal consistency analyses, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.872 and McDonald's Omega coefficient as 0.874. In conclusion, this one-dimensional, 8-item scale was validated as a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing peer support perceived by students competing in school sports in sport environments. It is recommended to examine the validity of the scale in different age groups, sport types and cultural contexts in further studies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• School sports
• peer support
• sport environments
• scale development

Peer Support in Sport Environments Scale: Validity and Reliability Study

Öz

Bu çalışmada, okul sporlarında mücadele eden öğrencilerin spor ortamlarında akran desteğini algılamalarını değerlendirmek amacıyla geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçek geliştirilmesi hedeflenmiştir. Bu çalışmada ölçek geliştirme adımları olarak; kapsamlı bir literatür taramasının ardından madde havuzunun oluşturulması, uzman değerlendirmelerinin alınması, ön uygulamanın gerçekleştirilmesi ve psikometrik özelliklerin test edilmesi süreçleri izlenmiştir. Açımlayıcı Faktör Analizi (AFA) için 494 öğrenciden, Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi (DFA) için ise 419 öğrenciden veri toplanmıştır. AFA sonuçları, ölçeğin tek faktörlü bir yapıya sahip olduğunu ve toplam varyansın %47.6’sını açıkladığını göstermiştir. DFA analizleri, ölçeğin yapı geçerliliğini desteklemiş ve modelin uyum indeksleri kabul edilebilir düzeyde bulunmuştur (χ²/sd = 2.19, RMSEA = 0.0532, CFI = 0.981, TLI = 0.974, SRMR = 0.0272). Ayrıca, iki faktörlü alternatif model de test edilmiş; ancak uyum indeksleri tek faktörlü modele göre anlamlı şekilde daha düşük olduğu için tercih edilmemiştir (ΔCFI > .01; ΔRMSEA > .015).İç tutarlılık analizleri sonucunda Cronbach Alpha katsayısı 0.872, McDonald's Omega katsayısı ise 0.874 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, tek boyutlu, 8 maddeden oluşan bu ölçek; okul sporlarında mücadele eden öğrencilerin spor ortamlarında algıladıkları akran desteğini değerlendirmede geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olarak doğrulanmıştır. Bundan sonra yapılacak çalışmalar için ölçeğin farklı yaş gruplarında, spor türlerinde ve kültürel bağlamlarda geçerliliğinin incelenmesi önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• School sports
• peer support
• sport environments
• scale development

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