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The Measurement of Student Engagement: A Comparative Analysis of Various Methods and Student Self-report Instruments

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Handbook of Research on Student Engagement

Abstract

One of the challenges with research on student engagement is the large variation in the measurement of this construct, which has made it challenging to compare findings across studies. This chapter contributes to our understanding of the measurement of student in engagement in three ways. First, we describe strengths and limitations of different methods for assessing student engagement (i.e., self-report measures, experience sampling techniques, teacher ratings, interviews, and observations). Second, we compare and contrast 11 self-report survey measures of student engagement that have been used in prior research. Across these 11 measures, we describe what is measured (scale name and items), use of measure, samples, and the extent of reliability and validity information available on each measure. Finally, we outline limitations with current approaches to measurement and promising future directions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development, Connecticut College, New London, CT, USA

    Jennifer A. Fredricks Ph.D.

  2. SERVE Center, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Wendy McColskey Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Jennifer A. Fredricks Ph.D.
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  2. Wendy McColskey Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Fredricks Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, E. River Road 56, Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, USA

    Sandra L. Christenson

  2. Dept. Educational Psychology &, Instructional Technology, University of Georgia, Aderhold Hall 325N, Athens, 30602, Georgia, USA

    Amy L. Reschly

  3. Educational Research, New Zealand Council for, Wellington, New Zealand

    Cathy Wylie

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Fredricks, J.A., McColskey, W. (2012). The Measurement of Student Engagement: A Comparative Analysis of Various Methods and Student Self-report Instruments. In: Christenson, S., Reschly, A., Wylie, C. (eds) Handbook of Research on Student Engagement. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2018-7_37

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