DefinePK

Research Objective

To develop and validate a comprehensive Self-Concept Scale for the Hearing-Impaired School Children (SCSHISC) that is culturally relevant and psychometrically sound.

Methodology

The study employed a multi-stage development process for the SCSHISC, including:
1. Phenomenological Inquiry: Open-ended interviews in sign language with 30 hearing-impaired (HI) school children (ages 19-24) to generate initial items.
2. Expert Validation: A panel of five experts (clinical psychologists and teachers of HI children) rated 40 generated items for relevance and likelihood of occurrence. 25 items were retained.
3. Conversion to Sign Language: The scale was translated into sign language using a forward and backward translation method by bilingual teachers.
4. Pilot Study: A pilot test with 20 HI children (ages 8-10) using a Likert scale (0-3) to assess comprehensibility.
5. Main Study Data Collection: The finalized 25-item scale was administered to 230 HI school children using sign language instructions.
6. Data Analysis: Exploratory factor analysis (Principal Axis Factoring with Promax rotation) was used to identify underlying factors. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability, and convergent validity (correlation with Semantic Differential Scale) were assessed.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Phenomenological Inquiry Interviews"] --> B["Item Generation"];
    B --> C["Expert Validation"];
    C --> D["Scale Refinement"];
    D --> E["Sign Language Adaptation"];
    E --> F["Pilot Study"];
    F --> G["Final Scale Development"];
    G --> H["Data Collection N=230"];
    H --> I["Exploratory Factor Analysis"];
    I --> J["Identify Factors: Discomfort within self, Incompetence"];
    J --> K["Assess Reliability & Validity"];
    K --> L["Internal Consistency"];
    K --> M["Test-Retest Reliability"];
    K --> N["Convergent Validity"];
    L --> O["SCSHISC Validated"];
    M --> O;
    N --> O;
    O --> P["Conclusion & Recommendations"];                    

Discussion

The developed SCSHISC provides a psychometrically sound tool for assessing self-concept in hearing-impaired school children. The two identified factors, "Discomfort within self" and "Incompetence," reflect the unique challenges faced by this population, including feelings of unease, inferiority, communication difficulties, and perceived inadequacy. The scale's reliability and validity suggest its utility for research and clinical interventions aimed at improving the psychological well-being of hearing-impaired children.

Key Findings

- Exploratory factor analysis identified two distinct factors for the SCSHISC: "Discomfort within self" (9 items) and "Incompetence" (5 items), totaling 14 items in the final scale.
- The scale demonstrated good internal consistency: Cronbach's alpha for "Discomfort within self" was .78, for "Incompetence" was .65, and for the overall scale was .73.
- Test-retest reliability coefficient was .43, indicating moderate consistency over time.
- Convergent validity was supported by a significant positive correlation (r = .30) with the Semantic Differential Scale.

Conclusion

The SCSHISC is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the self-concept of hearing-impaired school children, capturing key dimensions of their self-perception. The scale's development and validation contribute to a better understanding of self-concept in this population and can facilitate targeted interventions.

Fact Check

- The study involved 230 participants for the main data collection.
- The final SCSHISC comprises 14 items, reduced from an initial 25 items after factor analysis.
- The internal consistency for the "Discomfort within self" factor was reported as .78.

Mind Map