Conceptualising Malaysian Chinese primary school students’ quality of school life: a mixed methods study

ABSTRACT

This study aims to establish the dimensions that explain the Malaysian Chinese primary school students’ quality of school life. This study employed a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. Quantitative data were collected from 649 Grade 5 Malaysian National Chinese primary school students, and six students were purposively identified to participate in a focus group interview. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to identify the factor structures of the QSL scale. Quantitative findings informed six extracted dimensions: (1) positive affect, (2) teacher-student relations, (3) friendship, (4) opportunity, (5) negative affect, and (6) achievement that possibly explains the Malaysian Chinese students’ quality of school life. Qualitative findings provided insights into the quantitative findings on the conceptualisation of quality of school life and proposed adding new dimensions. The findings suggest a need to develop a locally relevant Chinese version of quality of school life scale to be used in future studies.This study aims to establish the dimensions that explain the Malaysian Chinese primary school students’ quality of school life. This study employed a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. Quantitative data were collected from 649 Grade 5 Malaysian National Chinese primary school students, and six students were purposively identified to participate in a focus group interview. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to identify the factor structures of the QSL scale. Quantitative findings informed six extracted dimensions: (1) positive affect, (2) teacher-student relations, (3) friendship, (4) opportunity, (5) negative affect, and (6) achievement that possibly explains the Malaysian Chinese students’ quality of school life. Qualitative findings provided insights into the quantitative findings on the conceptualisation of quality of school life and proposed adding new dimensions. The findings suggest a need to develop a locally relevant Chinese version of quality of school life scale to be used in future studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Confirmatory factor analysis
• exploratory factor analysis
• focus group interview
• mixed methods
• quality of school life (QSL)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) under Grant [304/PGURU/6315046];Universiti Sains Malaysia [Short Term Grant [304/PGURU/6315046]].

Notes on contributors

Lei Mee Thien

Lei Mee Thien is a senior lecturer in School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Her research interest includes educational management and leadership, positive education, quality of school life, and multivariate analysis. She has published articles in referred journals, including Social Psychology of Education, Asia Pacific Education Researcher, Social Indicators Research, Child Indicators Research, and Quality & Quantity.

Mageswary Karpudewan

Mageswary Karpudewan is an associate professor in the School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. In 2010, she received her PhD in chemistry education from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Her researches primarily focus on using mixed method approach in the teaching and learning and practical understanding of science across primary, secondary and tertiary level.

Huan Chin

Huan Chinis a PhD Candidate in School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Her current research interest includes qualitative research method and educational assessment in mathematics education.