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Adaptation and Validation of the University Student Engagement Scale (USES) in the Ethiopian Higher Education Context

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Title: Adaptation and Validation of the University Student Engagement Scale (USES) in the Ethiopian Higher Education Context
Language: English
Authors: Yalalem Assefa (ORCID 0000-0001-6175-0161), Getnet Tizazu Fetene, Getu Shiferaw Wolle (ORCID 0000-0001-9331-6765)
Source: Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 2026 18(4):1044-1065.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Learner Engagement, Undergraduate Students, Measures (Individuals), Test Validity, Factor Structure, Test Reliability
Geographic Terms: Ethiopia
DOI: 10.1108/JARHE-05-2024-0215
ISSN: 2050-7003
1758-1184
Abstract: Purpose: Considering student engagement as one of the most important factors for student success, studies attempt to conceptualize it by developing and validating various measures in different settings. However, validation efforts to establish a culturally sensitive measure to understand student engagement in the Ethiopian context are limited. Hence, the current study attempts to adapt the University Student Engagement Scale (USES) and validate its psychometric properties for use in assessing student engagement within the Ethiopian higher education environment. Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional design, the study collected data from 456 undergraduate university students with a questionnaire and then analyzed it using factorial analysis methodologies such as exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: The study results yielded a set of 20 defined items with a five-factor structure of student engagement that includes behavioral, emotional, cognitive, agentic and sociocultural dimensions. The validated USES is a comprehensive tool and captures critical aspects of agentic and sociocultural engagement that are often overlooked in existing scales of student engagement. In addition, the USES has demonstrated acceptable item distribution properties, psychometric sensitivity, a theoretically supported factor structure, and strong evidence for validity, reliability and measurement invariance. Originality/value: All these results confirm that the proposed USES is a strong tool for assessing the engagement of university students in academic and institutional activities within the Ethiopian higher education context. In the end, further discussions and conclusions are drawn.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507620
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Adaptation and Validation of the University Student Engagement Scale (USES) in the Ethiopian Higher Education Context
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yalalem+Assefa%22">Yalalem Assefa</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6175-0161">0000-0001-6175-0161</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Getnet+Tizazu+Fetene%22">Getnet Tizazu Fetene</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Getu+Shiferaw+Wolle%22">Getu Shiferaw Wolle</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9331-6765">0000-0001-9331-6765</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Applied+Research+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 18(4):1044-1065.
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  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 22
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
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  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learner+Engagement%22">Learner Engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measures+%28Individuals%29%22">Measures (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Structure%22">Factor Structure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethiopia%22">Ethiopia</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/JARHE-05-2024-0215
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2050-7003<br />1758-1184
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Considering student engagement as one of the most important factors for student success, studies attempt to conceptualize it by developing and validating various measures in different settings. However, validation efforts to establish a culturally sensitive measure to understand student engagement in the Ethiopian context are limited. Hence, the current study attempts to adapt the University Student Engagement Scale (USES) and validate its psychometric properties for use in assessing student engagement within the Ethiopian higher education environment. Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional design, the study collected data from 456 undergraduate university students with a questionnaire and then analyzed it using factorial analysis methodologies such as exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: The study results yielded a set of 20 defined items with a five-factor structure of student engagement that includes behavioral, emotional, cognitive, agentic and sociocultural dimensions. The validated USES is a comprehensive tool and captures critical aspects of agentic and sociocultural engagement that are often overlooked in existing scales of student engagement. In addition, the USES has demonstrated acceptable item distribution properties, psychometric sensitivity, a theoretically supported factor structure, and strong evidence for validity, reliability and measurement invariance. Originality/value: All these results confirm that the proposed USES is a strong tool for assessing the engagement of university students in academic and institutional activities within the Ethiopian higher education context. In the end, further discussions and conclusions are drawn.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1507620
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        Value: 10.1108/JARHE-05-2024-0215
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 1044
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learner Engagement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Measures (Individuals)
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      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
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      – SubjectFull: Factor Structure
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      – SubjectFull: Test Reliability
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      – SubjectFull: Ethiopia
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Adaptation and Validation of the University Student Engagement Scale (USES) in the Ethiopian Higher Education Context
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            NameFull: Getnet Tizazu Fetene
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