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Measurement and Structural Relations of an Authoritative School Climate Model: A Multi-level Latent Variable investigation

NCJ Number
249656
Journal
Journal of School Psychology Volume: 53 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2015 Pages: 447-461
Author(s)
T. R. Konold; D. Cornell
Date Published
December 2015
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study tested a conceptual model of school climate in which two key elements of an authoritative school - structure and support variables - are associated with student engagement in school and lower levels of peer aggression.
Abstract
Overall, study findings support the extension of authoritative school climate model to high school and guide further research on the conditions for a positive school climate. The study conducted multilevel multivariate structural modeling in a statewide sample of 48,027 students in 323 public high schools, who completed the Authoritative School Climate Survey. As hypothesized, two measures of structure (Disciplinary Structure and Academic Expectations) and two measures of support (Respect for Students and Willingness to Seek Help) were associated with higher student engagement (Affective Engagement and Cognitive Engagement) and lower peer aggression (Prevalence of Teasing and Bullying) on both student and school levels of analysis, controlling for the effects of school demographics (school size, percentage of minority students, and percentage of low income students). (Publisher abstract modified)