Validation of the Learning Approach Scale em uma Amostra Brasileira

The main objective of the current study is to build and validate the Learning Approach Scale (LAS), which was developed to assess the deep and surface dimensions in a Brazilian sample. Seven hundred sixteen participants from junior and high schools in the city of Belo Horizonte took part in the research. The exploratory factor analysis was used to identify those dimensions and to select the best items. Only 17 items were kept from the 27 original ones. By the Confirmatory Factor Analysis it was possible to identify the adequacy of one general and two specific factors, the latter representing the deep and surface approaches ([chi square]=281.50; gl=116; CF1=0.94; GF1=0.95 and RMSEA=0.05). The implications of the results for the theory of approaches and the application of the scale in the Educational Psychology field are discussed.