Construct, Normalization and Validation of System Approach Scale in Educational Planning by Principals and Teachers in West Mazandaran Province

Reliability and validity are important issues in test construction. System approach is a concept with various functions that considers interaction of employed people in different parts of a system. The present research aims to study the construct, normalization and validation of the system approach scale in educational planning. It was adescriptive survey research. Using multi-stage cluster sampling method, 483 subjects were selected from among all the principals and teachers in west Mazandaran's high schools and secondary schools. The subjects responded to the researcher-made system approach questionnaire. Using Cronbach's alpha, reliability of the test was computed as 0.981. Factor analysis of system approach items indicated that they explain more than 61.328% of the intended variance. After one varimax rotation, the desirable consistency between items and factors were determined. Then, five factors (including strategic attitude, strategic management, focusing on work environment, realities and objectives, paying attention to requirements, complexities and tasks, and knowledge and information management) were extracted and labeled as the components of system approach to educational planning. Considering the desirable psychometric properties, this questionnaire can be used to measure the system approach adopted by the employees of educational centers, such as the Ministry of Education, and universities. Consequently, it helps to prepare the ground for improving the educational programs and increase productivity of educational systems.