Design and Validation of an Instrument to Assess Social and Civic Competencies in Secondary School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to design and validate an instrument to assess teachers' perceptions of the development of social and civic competencies in secondary school students. A quantitative methodology based on expert judgment was used. Seven education specialists with more than five years of experience in teaching, research, or educational consulting participated. Knowledge (Kc), argumentation (Ka), and expert competence (K) coefficients were calculated, obtaining values above 0.8 in all cases, confirming the robustness of the validation process. The results demonstrated high internal consistency of the questionnaire, with an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.954, indicating excellent reliability. The criteria of coherence, clarity, scale, and relevance achieved Cronbach's alpha values above 0.94, demonstrating the relevance and comprehensibility of the items. Furthermore, item-total correlations ranged from 0.744 to 0.979, reflecting the adequate integration of the instrument's elements. In conclusion, the validated instrument demonstrated high validity and reliability, allowing for the accurate assessment of social and civic competencies. Its versatile application across different subjects makes it a useful tool for identifying areas for improvement and strengthening students' comprehensive education, providing a solid foundation for future research in the field of education.