A1 Journal article (refereed)
Assessment of students’ agency in Finnish and Spanish university courses : Analysis of measurement invariance (2023)

Jääskelä, P., Tolvanen, A., Marín, V. I., & Poikkeus, A.-M. (2023). Assessment of students’ agency in Finnish and Spanish university courses : Analysis of measurement invariance. International Journal of Educational Research, 118, Article 102140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102140

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Jääskelä, Päivikki; Tolvanen, Asko; Marín, Victoria I.; Poikkeus, Anna-Maija

Journal or series: International Journal of Educational Research

ISSN: 0883-0355

eISSN: 1873-538X

Publication year: 2023

Volume: 118

Article number: 102140

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2023.102140

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/85167

Abstract

This study reports on the measurement invariance of the Agency of University Students Scale in data consisting of Finnish and Spanish university students (n = 645) and presents cross-national findings on student agency assessment. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the metric invariance for 10 factors, which allows comparisons of covariance structures and correlation analyses, and can, for example, be used to examine background factor effects on agency across groups. At least partial scalar invariance was confirmed for six factors, allowing comparisons of mean values between Finnish and Spanish students. Differences were found in the experiences of personal and relational resources of agency. The analysis discusses the utility of the AUS Scale for large-scale studies of student agency across countries.

Keywords: students; studies in an institution of higher education; human agency; exchange students

Free keywords: student agency; higher education; cross-national study; measurement invariance; agency of university students scale

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2