Construction and Validation of a Questionnaire for Measurement of Structural Factors Affecting University Student’s Plagiarism

The main aim of the research was to validate a questionnaire that had constructed on the basis of a qualitative research about structural factors affecting plagiarism in Iran, with content and construct validity measures and reliability scales. Three-layer method and CVI procedure were used for evaluating content validity of the questionnaire. Besides, confirmatory factor analysis was used for evaluating construct validity of the tool. Then, split-half method was used for evaluating reliability of the questionnaire. SPSS and LISREL software were used for the analysis. Sample of study was graduate students of central universities of all provinces in Iran (n=540) that selected by means of multi-stage cluster sampling method and systematic method in each selected cluster.
Findings: results showed that on the basis of three step evaluation method and Content Validity Index (CVI) of the questionnaire was 0.875, content validity of the questionnaire was acceptable. Then, 7 reflective measurement models were offered for construct validity evaluation. Two secondary factor and 14 questions were eliminated from questionnaire because of their unacceptable output measures of tvalue, path coefficient and R2. Reliability measure of the tool estimated 0.855 (> 0.7). Two peripheral factors namely “frequency of justifications” (with questions 44 & 45) and “avoidance of disclosure” (with questions 74 & 75) understood as unacceptable factors affecting plagiarism. 10 questions from other factors recognized as unacceptable and in total, 14 questions were eliminated and the questionnaire was reduced to 90 questions.