THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACADEMIC RISK SCALE FOR FILIPINO COLLEGE STUDENTS: TEST CONCEPTUALIZATION AND ITEM ANALYSIS

Academic risk is an increasing problem among college students and there is no available local instrument that can identify its behavioral indicators. This study details the test conceptualization and item analysis process in the development of a valid and reliable Academic Risk Scale (ARS) for Filipino college students. Based on the Risk-Focused Model which supports that there can be multiple risk factors behind a problem, it is believes that in taking steps to reduce or eliminate these risk factors, problems among the youth can be prevented. The purpose of the development of the ARS then is to identify the different behavioral indicators that may explain the reasons behind the problem of academic risk among college students. A thorough review of available literature and studies on academic failure and academic risk was first conducted in order to gather empirically supported information on the behavioral indicators of academic risk. Other than this, a survey was done with academically at-risk college students and college professors. Taken together, the results of the literature review and survey led to the conceptualization of the eleven components of academic risk. These components include academic habits, academic attitudes, academic unpreparedness, academic adjustment, academic goals, academic motivation, mental health, physical health, social relations, home environment and school environment. Items were written under each component, ensuring that items are reflective of behaviors of students that show their inability to manage, perform and fulfill their school responsibilities that lead to poor academic performance and failure. These items were then content validated by different experts in Psychology and Counseling, leading to the construction of the ARS Preliminary Form that was pilot tested to 442 academically at-risk college students to facilitate the process of item analysis.