Measuring Student Perceptions of School Climate: A Systematic Review and Ecological Content Analysis

Schools have been called to effectively assess and monitor school climate given its potential to enhance positive student outcomes and mitigate risk behaviors. A variety of instruments of school climate are available, differing in theory, content, and psychometric properties. In order to assist school professionals in selecting an instrument that best suits their school’s needs, this systematic review identifies and describes research-based instruments measuring student perceptions of school climate and evaluates their underlying content and psychometric properties. Instruments are evaluated based on their compatibility to an ecological framework drawing from the Systems View of School Climate. A total of 31 articles describing 26 student self-report instruments were included in this review. Findings provide guidance to school professionals on selecting student self-report instruments that fit the unique landscape of their school and community and underscore the importance of research focused on improving and cross-validating existing instruments.