Content Validation of the Community College Student Success Program Inventory

Authors

Deryl K. Hatch, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Naomi Mardock-Uman, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Nebraska
Matthew J. Nelson, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

6-2017

Citation

Published in Community College Journal of Research and Practice (2017) doi:10.1080/10668926.2017.1323694

Comments

Copyright © 2017 Taylor & Francis. Used by permission.

Abstract

This study reports on the content validation of the Community College Student Success Program Inventory (CCSSPI), a structured interview protocol for program personnel, designed to serve as a tool for researchers and practitioners alike to account for critical features of various types of student success programs in detailed and comparable ways across multiple sites. In all, 20 subject matter experts (SMEs) rated the relevancy and clarity of each item to ascertain essential program features. Content validity index (CVI) and scale-level index scores (S-CVI) were calculated. Results showed high to moderately high validity for items related to course goals, logistics, skills-focused curricular items, and academic and student services. Other contingent facets—collaborative and contextualized learning, co-curricular and community activities, ancillary instruction, and instructor role—were rated as less valid, depending on program goals. The instrument is recommended for use in multisite qualitative or mixed-methods research and institutional improvement.