The measurement of quality management culture in schools: Development and validation of the SQMCS

This paper reports on the development and validation of a survey instrument for measuring the culture of Quality Management (QM) in K-12 educational settings. The intent was to develop an instrument that would tap both the behavioral norms and the underlying values and beliefs associated with a Quality culture. The process used in the development and honing of this measurement instrument included theory review, qualitative data analysis, practitioner input, and both exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques. Measures of fit and interpretability as well as reliability and validity evidence suggest the iteratively derived survey largely achieves the goal of providing verified scales for evaluating multiple aspects of a school's Quality culture.