DIAZ-SIMON, Nadir; LEON, Dinorah de; FITIPALDE, Dahiana    VASQUEZ-ECHEVERRIA, Alejandro. Development and validation of the Environment Characterization Inventory for Early Education. []. , 23, 3, pp.1-25. ISSN 1516-3687.  https://doi.org/10.5935/1980-6906/ePTPPE13873.

In this study, the Environment Characterization Inventory for Early Education (INCA-EI) psychometric properties and the effect of socioeconomic context and type of institution on the quality of environments were assessed. One hundred forty-two early education classrooms were evaluated. The analysis of Unidimensionality for the Structure Dimension and the CFA for the Process Dimension showed a good fit of the items to the Structure sub-dimensions (p > .05; CFI > .90; RMSEA < .08) and validated the organization of three correlated factors in the Process sub-dimensions (χ²=323.82; RMSEA=.06; CFI=.96; TLI=.96). The instrument presents good internal consistency values (α=.88; ω=.93) and moderate to considerable agreements in most scores in the inter-rater reliability analysis (ICC=.80). Differences are presented between the quality of the environment of schools and kindergartens and Institutions of different socioeconomic contexts. The results show that INCA-EI is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating environments in early education, which can be used for research purposes and monitoring of public policies.

: school environment; early education; validity; reliability; socioeconomic status.

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