Collegian
Volume 16, Issue 3 , Pages 153-162, July 2009

Development and psychometric testing of the Belongingness Scale–Clinical Placement Experience: An international comparative study

  • Tracy Levett-Jones, RN, PhD, MEd & Work, BN, DipAppSc (Nursing), MRCNA

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 02 4921 6559; fax: +61 02 4921 6301.
    • ,
  • Judith Lathlean, DPhil, MA, BSc(Hons), BSc(Econ)

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Southampton, Nightingale Building (67), University Road, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
    • Tel.: +44 02 3 8059 8234; fax: +44 02 3 8059 7900.
    • ,
  • Isabel Higgins, RN, PhD, MN

      Affiliations

    • School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
    • Tel.: +61 02 49214791.
    • ,
  • Margaret McMillan, RN, PhD, MA (Hons), BA, DipNursEd

      Affiliations

    • Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
    • Tel.: +61 02 4921 6783; fax: +61 02 4921 2020.

Received 13 January 2009; received in revised form 26 April 2009; accepted 29 April 2009. published online 03 August 2009.

Summary 

Aim

This paper reports the development and psychometric testing of the Belongingness Scale–Clinical Placement Experience, an instrument designed to measure the extent to which nursing students experience belongingness related to their clinical placements.

Background

The need to belong is a global concept that exerts a powerful influence on cognitive processes, emotional patterns, behavioural responses, health and well-being. Diminished belongingness impedes students’ motivation to learn. Measuring belongingness specific to the clinical environment and comparing different cohorts requires valid and reliable instruments.

Method

Scales for measuring belongingness were identified following a critical review of the literature. From these a new 34-item instrument was developed. During 2006 the instrument was tested with students (n=362) from two Australian universities and one university in the south of England. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine construct validity and Cronbach's coefficient alpha determined the scale's internal consistency reliability.

Results

Differences in belongingness scores were statistically significant, with the British cohort scoring higher than either of the Australian sites. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha 0.92). Principal component analysis yielded a three-component structure termed Esteem, Connectedness and Efficacy and each subscale demonstrated high internal consistency: 0.9; 0.82; 0.8 respectively.

Conclusion

The scale was reliable and valid for the three cohorts. Results indicated that the instrument is capable of differentiating between respondents and cohorts. Further research in different contexts would be valuable in taking this work forward.

Keywords: Belongingness, Nursing student, Instrument development, Clinical placement

 

PII: S1322-7696(09)00032-8

doi:10.1016/j.colegn.2009.04.004

Collegian
Volume 16, Issue 3 , Pages 153-162, July 2009

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