Design and Standardization of a Scale for Measuring Foresight Skills in Iraqi Higher Education
Keywords:
Iraq, Validity and Reliability, Scale Development and Standardization, Foresight Skills, Higher EducationAbstract
This study aimed to design and standardize a valid and culturally adapted scale to assess foresight skills among Iraqi university students. The study was applied in nature and employed a descriptive–survey quantitative design. The population included 439 undergraduate students from the College of Basic Education at the University of Sumer, of whom 222 were randomly selected. A researcher-developed questionnaire was constructed, initially comprising 75 Likert-scale items derived from theoretical and empirical literature. After expert validation and item refinement, the final version contained 61 items across seven subscales. Construct validity was tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, while reliability was assessed via Cronbach’s alpha and a three-week test–retest method. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. The KMO value (0.953) and Bartlett’s test (χ²=12671.91, p<0.05) confirmed sampling adequacy. Exploratory factor analysis revealed seven factors with loadings between 0.30 and 0.81, explaining 67% of total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the seven-factor model, with good fit indices (RMSEA=0.056; CFI=0.94; GFI=0.91; TLI=0.92). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.92 across subscales and 0.97 overall, while test–retest reliability was r=0.87, demonstrating strong temporal stability and internal consistency. The developed foresight skills scale demonstrated excellent validity and reliability, confirming its suitability for assessing Iraqi university students’ foresight competencies. Beyond research applications, the scale provides a strategic tool for educational evaluation, curriculum design, and policy development aimed at enhancing foresight-oriented learning within Iraq’s higher education system.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Noor Naim Ajel (Author); Ali Khalkhali; Falih Abdulhasan Owaid Al-Nuairi, Mahboubeh Sadat Fadavi (Author)
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