Measuring learning environment perceptions: Validation of the Italian version of the Approach to Study Inventory and the Student Course Experience Questionnaire

The aim of this study was to adapt to the Italian context and validate two instruments used to investigate learning environment perceptions and approaches to study: the Student Course Experience Questionnaire (SCEQ), and the Approaches to Study Inventory (ASI). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a cross-validation for both instruments were conducted over a sample of 622 students belonging to different faculties of an Italian university. In the original version (30 items), the Student Course Experience Questionnaire did not provide satisfactory results. The CFA of the 23 items of the SCEQ version and the 12 items of the ASI showed that they are reliable measures of the respective constructs. CFA of the SCEQ and of the ASI showed acceptable fit indices. Although in need of further improvement, these instruments can be useful in the Italian academic context.