• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.345-368
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to develop the School Multicultural Climate(SMC) scale for students and to evaluate its reliability and validity. This study comprises of both qualitative and quantitative research. Preliminary items were developed based on the theoretical literature and interviews with students. The scale was evaluated with students in grades 4 through 6 in the seven elementary schools. Exploratory factor analysis was determined that the scale was composed of four components: Equal Status, Mutual Cooperation, Friendly Relations, Supportive Norms. The scale demonstrated that Cronbach's alpha=.943 for the internal consistency of total items. And the standard error of the measurement, another way of evaluating reliability, was 3.33. Criteria-related validity was evaluated by showing that the differences of the students' recognition of the school multicultural climate level, which depend on the availability of the multiculture-related policy, was statistically significant. The correlation analysis for the convergent validity was performed with the theoretically related variables such as self esteem and school adjustment. It was found that the SMC scale was a reliable and valid measure for evaluating the multicultural climate level of elementary school.