Vol. 23 No. 3 (2025)
Articles

Autonomy Support: Validation of the Learning Climate Questionnaire Among University Students

Cristina Cedillo-Quizhpe
Bio
José Miguel Arias Blanco
Bio
Joaquín-Lorenzo Burguera
Bio
Published June 27, 2025

Keywords:

Support, Autonomy, Higher education, Learning climate, Self-Determination Theory
How to Cite
Cedillo-Quizhpe, C., Arias Blanco , J. M. ., & Burguera , J.-L. . (2025). Autonomy Support: Validation of the Learning Climate Questionnaire Among University Students . REICE. Ibero-American Journal on Quality, Effectiveness and Change in Education, 23(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.15366/reice2025.23.3.004

Abstract

The learning climate is a proximal social context that provides contact between individuals and, as a result, has the potential to foster or frustrate basic psychological needs. This study aims to analyse the validity and reliability of the Learning Climate Questionnaire in a sample of university students from Cuenca, Ecuador. A pilot study with 175 participants was conducted, followed by a study with 403 participants from different fields of knowledge, selected by a probabilistic method. The data analysis employed both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. To test the models, the DWLS estimator was considered, given that the items are ordinal variables along with ?2, RMSEA, SRMR, CFI, and TLI.  The one-factor model showed better adjustment, which confirms the unidimensional structure. The results demonstrate that the questionnaire is a valid measure, with adequate properties for students to evaluate teaching autonomy support in the university context.

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