Development and Validation of Satisfaction with Academic Department Scale (SADS) for University Students: Measurement Invariance by Gender and Major Field

Objectives This study aims to develop Satisfaction with Academic Department Scale (SADS) and testing measurement invariance by gender and major field for university students in South Korea. Methods The survey dataset of 1,775 students was randomly split into two samples. One of them was used for exploratory factor analysis, and the other one was used for confirmatory factor analysis. Results The results of the exploratory factor analysis indicated that SADS consisted of four factors (i.e.,‘course satisfaction’, ‘relationship satisfaction’, ‘perception satisfaction’, ‘general satisfaction’). The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the SADS consisted of 4 factors with 20 items in satisfactory model fit indices. Moreover, measurement invariance by gender and major field (humanities⋅social science/natural sciences⋅engineering/ arts⋅physical education) were strictly supported. The internal consistencies of the items for each sub-factor of SADS were also reliable. Conclusions It is expected that SADS will be useful instrument to measure the satisfaction with academic department for university students regardless of gender and major field.