Factor Analysis of the Administrator-Research Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) Survey

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Higher Education Administration
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment pose significant risks to college students' health and well-being.
• Title IX mandates higher education institutions address sexual misconduct as discrimination, increasing the need for campus climate assessments.
• Campus climate surveys examine student experiences and institutional responses to sexual violence and harassment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Administrator-Researcher Campus Climate Collaborative (ARC3) Campus Climate Survey.
• To assess the validity and reliability of the ARC3 survey modules designed to measure Title IX violations.
• To provide data for improving campus safety and prevention efforts regarding sexual misconduct.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a sample of students from seven universities.
• Employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to examine the survey's factor structure.
• Assessed the psychometric properties of each module within the ARC3 survey.

Main Results:

• The majority of modules within the ARC3 survey were found to be valid and reliable.
• Factor analysis confirmed a robust factor structure for most survey components.
• The ARC3 survey effectively measures various aspects of campus sexual misconduct and related experiences.

Conclusions:

• The ARC3 Campus Climate Survey is a psychometrically sound instrument for evaluating campus sexual safety.
• Results support the use of the ARC3 survey for data-driven improvements in prevention and response efforts.
• Recommendations include adopting a scorecard approach for a comprehensive overview of campus safety status.