Positive Academic Behavior Scale (ECAP): Construction And Validation in University Students

Translate Introduction. Positive academic behaviors are defined as those behaviors and practices through which students construct and demonstrate their learning during the educational process, encompassing the set of student activities through which academic work is normally materialized. While the relevance of this non-cognitive factor for academic achievement is well established in the literature, a methodological gap persists regarding the availability of validated instruments for its measurement. Given this, the present instrumental work reports the process of construction and initial validation of the Positive Academic Behavior Scale (PABS). Method. The psychometric evaluation of the instrument, composed of 10 items, was carried out using two independent samples (N1 = 472; N2 = 571) of university students from Quito-Ecuador. The analytical strategy of the empirical validation process consisted of evaluating the aspects of internal structure, reliability in terms of internal consistency and individual quality of the items that make up the ECAP. Results. The internal structure of the instrument was evaluated using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factorial Analysis, providing cross-evidence of unidimensionality. In turn, the PABS presents good levels of internal consistency (alpha = 0,966; omega = 0,928). Additionally, by means of the Classical Test Theory, the individual quality of the items was evaluated in terms of difficulty and discrimination, obtaining satisfactory results. Discussion and conclusions. Based on the evidence provided, it is possible to conclude that PABS is a valid, reliable, and useful instrument for the evaluation of positive academic behavior in the university context. Among the practical implications of the PABS, its usefulness is discussed in two ways: a) the development of institutional strategies aimed at preventing unfavorable academic outcomes; b) expand research on this phenomenon and its impact on the student life of university students. Keywords.