PSSM-Psychological Sense of School Membership Survey

About PSSM

Since its creation in 1993, The Psychological Sense of School Membership has been widely used to measure students’ sense of belonging at school.  This version has 18 items appropriate for students Age 8 and older. This version has been tested with over 2,500 students in the United States, United Kingdom, and China.

What questions are asked in the survey?

Preliminary Questions: 

  1. Which school are you in?
  2. Select your grade
  3. How many years have you been at this school (including this year)?
  4. You selected that this is your first year in your school.  Did you attend another school in this district last year?

 

Demographics

Question

High Detail: 6-12th Grade

Low Detail: 4th - 5th Grade

Which best describes your racial/ethnic background?

   Included

  Included

Which best describes your religion? 

  Included

 Included

Are you in the reduced-price or free lunch program? 

   Included

 Included

What is the highest level of education that any of your parents or  guardians have completed?

  Question not included 

   Question not included 

Do you receive services or support from Special Education programs?

  Included

 Question not included 

Which best describes your gender? 

  Included

 Included - less choices

Do you personally identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community?

  Included

  Question not included 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSSM- Format and 18 Questions 

Likert scale  (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

  1. Never true
  2. Usually not true
  3. Sometimes true
  4. Often true
  5.  Always true
     

Questions:
  1. I felt like a real part of (name of school).
  2. People notice when I’m good at something.
  3. It is hard for people like me to be accepted here. 
  4. Other students in this school take my opinions seriously.
  5. Most teachers at this school are interested in me.
  6. Sometimes I don’t feel as if I belong here. 
  7. There’s at least one teacher or other adult in this school I can talk to if I have a problem.
  8. People at this school are friendly to me.
  9. Teachers here are not interested in people like me. 
  10. I am included in lots of activities at this school.
  11. I am treated with as much respect as other students.
  12. I feel very different from most other students here. 
  13. I can really be myself at this school.
  14. The teachers here respect me.
  15. People here know I can do good work.
  16. I wish I were in a different school. 
  17. I feel proud of belonging to (name of school).
  18. Other students here like me the way I am.