The engagement in university students: preliminary psychometric analyses of the Spanish version of the engagement vs. disaffection with learning scale

Abstract

The level of active participation of students in a learning activity is referred to as student engagement. Research indicates that engagement and disaffection are two complementary factors with two domains: behavioral and emotional. Unfortunately, there are no multidimensional instruments available in Spanish. Therefore, a study was conducted to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of Engagement vs. Disaffection with Learning (EDL). A sample of 194 participants was analyzed in terms of distribution of item responses, factor structure, internal consistency, and the correlation with other measures of engagement and personality traits. Results confirmed the scale's reliability in terms of internal consistency. However, some problematic items were identified. The Spanish version of the EDL appears to be a promising scale for assessing engagement among Spanish-speaking students, with the need to review some of its previous items. The EDL could be a useful tool for educators and researchers in the field of education.