Htqe.2025.49

https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025.49 | 683-698 | PDF

Researching Sexuality Education for Family Formation in Latvia: Questionnaire Design and Validity

Dzintra Atstaja¹, Manuel Joaquín Fernández González¹, Jekaterina Kuzmina²
¹University of Latvia, Latvia
²BA School of Business and Finance, Latvia

Abstract
The project “Promoting sexuality education for family formation in the Latvian education system” aims at exploring the understandings and needs in the Latvian education system regarding sexuality education for family formation (SE4FF). Given the need for a scientifically based research tool addressing SE4FF in the Latvian context, the research questions guiding the study were: RQ1: What are the topics to be included in a scientifically based survey questionnaire to investigate SE4FF in Latvia in a culturally sensitive way? RQ2: Which items should be included under each topic in such a questionnaire? RQ3: Which is the reliability level of the final version of the questionnaire?

To address RQ1 and RQ2, a systematic methodological approach based on questionnaire design research was used. It included extensive preliminary research, elaboration of the initial draft, piloting and finalisation. The reliability check (RQ3) was done using Cronbach’s alpha, based on 1197 answers received in Spring 2025.

Five thematic areas were included in the questionnaire: (1) family values; (2) approaches to sexuality education; (3) sexuality education at school, including 4 subsections (school topics, sexual relationships at school age, school-parent cooperation, and teacher training); (4) needs in the education system; and (5) examples of good practice. The final questionnaire included 55 items, including 6 open questions. Item formulation was based on national and international scientific literature, current social and political debates, the current sexuality education provision in Latvia and the Latvian historical heritage (1918–1939). The overall reliability of the scale items of the questionnaire was high (α = .865, 46 items).

The discussion addresses the questionnaire’s face validity, content validity, construct validity and contrast validity. The findings support the potential of the new questionnaire as a valuable tool for future research on SE4FF with further possible applications in sexuality education curriculum, teacher training and school-family partnerships.

Keywords: Education for family formation, sexuality education, family values, survey design, questionnaire validity

In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2025. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2025. Rakstu krājums.  Ed. L. Daniela. Riga: University of Latvia, 2025. 698 p.
ISBN 978-9934-36-461-7 
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025