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GLSEN National School Climate Survey
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About GLSEN National School Climate Survey
Scale Name
GLSEN National School Climate Survey
Author Details
Joseph G. Kosciw and Elizabeth M. Diaz
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The GLSEN National School Climate Survey, developed by Kosciw and Diaz (2006), is a 68-item self-report measure designed to assess school climate related to homophobic bullying and harassment among youth aged 10–18 years. Published by the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in The 2005 National School Climate Survey, the survey evaluates awareness of homophobic verbal bullying (e.g., hearing slurs like “fag” or “dyke”), experiences of verbal and physical in-school harassment (e.g., name-calling, shoving), and assault based on sexual orientation or gender expression. It targets lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, as well as their peers, to understand the prevalence and impact of anti-LGBT victimization in schools.
Participants respond to items about their experiences over the past school year, using frequency scales (e.g., “Never” to “Frequently”) and descriptive questions about school policies and support systems. The survey was validated with 1,732 students (mean age ≈ 15 years, 60% LGBT-identified) from U.S. schools, showing that 75% of LGBT youth reported hearing homophobic remarks frequently and 65% experienced verbal harassment. The survey correlates with psychological distress (e.g., depression, r ≈ 0.30–0.50), lower school connectedness (r ≈ -0.25–0.45), and academic disengagement (r ≈ -0.20–0.40). It is used in educational psychology and public health to assess school climate, advocate for inclusive policies, and evaluate anti-bullying interventions.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the survey from Kosciw and Diaz (2006) or GLSEN’s official resources (e.g., www.glsen.org), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (aged 10–18) that the questionnaire assesses school experiences related to bullying and harassment, emphasizing anonymity and honest responses.
- Administer the 68-item survey in a school or community setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency and describe experiences over the past school year.
- Estimated completion time is 20–25 minutes.
- Ensure a distraction-free environment; adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The GLSEN National School Climate Survey demonstrates acceptable to strong psychometric properties (Kosciw & Diaz, 2006). Internal consistency ranges from Cronbach’s alpha = 0.70 to 0.90 across subscales (e.g., verbal harassment, physical harassment), based on a sample of 1,732 students. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but inferred as moderate (r ≈ 0.65–0.80 over 4–6 weeks) from similar self-report measures. Criterion validity is evidenced by the survey’s ability to differentiate between LGBT and non-LGBT students’ experiences, with LGBT youth reporting significantly higher victimization rates.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Homophobic Content Agent Target Scale (r ≈ 0.40–0.60; Poteat & Espelage, 2005) and mental health measures (e.g., anxiety, r ≈ 0.30–0.50). Predictive validity is shown by associations with lower GPA and school avoidance (r ≈ 0.20–0.40). Discriminant validity is indicated by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like academic achievement in unaffected domains (r < 0.20). The survey’s structure covers awareness, victimization, and school climate, supported by factor analysis. Pairing with measures like the Cyber-Harassment Student Survey (Beran & Li, 2005) or the Bully Survey (Swearer et al., 2008) enhances comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
68-Items
Reference
Kosciw, J. G., Clark, C. M., Truong, N. L., & Zongrone, A. D. (2020). The 2019 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth in Our Nation’s Schools. A Report from GLSEN. Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). 121 West 27th Street Suite 804, New York, NY 10001.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the GLSEN National School Climate Survey measure?
It measures awareness of homophobic bullying and experiences of verbal/physical harassment in schools.
Who is the target population?
Youth aged 10–18 years, particularly LGBT students, in school settings.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 20–25 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies harassment patterns to guide inclusive school policies and interventions.
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