Motivation; Test Construction; Validity IDENTIFIERS *Cross Validation

Factors commonly associated with underachievement in the research literature include low self-concept, low self-motivation/self-regulation, negative attitude toward school, and negative peer influence. This study attempts to isolate these four factors within a secondary school population. The purpose of the study was to design a valid and reliable instrument to measure adolescents ' academic self-perceptions, attitudes toward school, motivation/self-regulation, and perceived peer attitude in order to understand the underachievement of able youth more fully. The School Attitude Assessment Survey (SAAS) attempted to isolate these factors within a secondary school population. This paper presents the results of the cross-validation of the SAAS pilot study involving 942 students from 1 middle school and 2 high schools and presents evidence of the validity and reliability of the SAAS for use with secondary school students. The cross-validation also lends credence to the construct validity of the four-factor model. An appendix contains the SAAS instrument. (Contains 52 references.) (SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document