Assessing Learner Autonomy: Development and Validation of a Localized Scale

With the inclusion of learner autonomy as an educational objective in many educational programs around the world, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to measure to what extent different interventions are successful. Although some general tests exist, we argue in this chapter for the need to develop localized instruments that are culturally appropriate, educationally relevant, and that are based on pedagogical principles shared by the staff and students in the particular context. Specifically, we describe the creation of a scale for measuring learner autonomy at a university in China. We detail the process of its development, from initial conception through to rigorous psychometric validation. In doing so, we will share some of the lessons learned and discuss some of the implications for scale developers and educational practitioners in other contexts.