Peer attitudes toward inclusion: Contributions of an instrument adaptation

Abstract

For a full educational inclusion it is necessary the interaction among all students. Despite the importance of the attitudes and behaviours, peers are one of the least studied. In two studies we search for a structure with good validity and reliability of the Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes towards Children with Handicaps scale toward Portuguese students to, afterwards, analyse children and adolescents of the attitudes regarding inclusion. From exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, a shorter solution was found, keeping a multidimensional structure with good validity and reliability. With the instrument, it was possible to find differences between boys and girls and a relationship between age and cognitive dimension. Yet, contact with SEN peers appears as a determining factor in the attitudes, either among students with SEN family, SEN friends or SEN colleagues for the first time in the class. The results and their implications are discussed.