Technical report: Psychometric properties of self-directed learning survey measures in broad access institution contexts

Abstract

The Postsecondary Teaching with Technology Collaborative (the Collaborative) conducted secondary analyses of survey datasets to advance the conceptualization and measurement of self-directed learning (SDL) in higher education. Drawing on data from two of the Collaborative’s prior studies—the Institutional Policy and Practice (IPP) Study and the Rapid Cycle Evaluations (RCEs)—we examined how existing instruments used to measure SDL perform in the context of broad access institutions and across the diverse student populations they serve.  

This technical report describes the data sources, harmonization procedures, and psychometric analyses used to gather evidence for the reliability, validity, and fairness of the SDL survey measures. It is intended for researchers and other technical audiences interested in understanding the methodological approach and psychometric evidence that underpin the Collaborative’s work. Detailed results for each measure are presented in the appendices.