Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Learner Satisfaction Survey in Online Courses: A Transcultural Adaptation and Psychometric Study

Background: Following the importance of assessing the online courses from Iranian learner’s viewpoint, this study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Learner Satisfaction Survey (LSS) in online courses in the Iranian Methods: In this transcultural adaptation and psychometric study, ۵۲۶ students who had studied at least ۲ semesters online were selected based on convenience sampling method and enrolled in eight public universities of Iran (Based on geographical distribution) from October ۲۰۲۲ to January ۲۰۲۳. The learner satisfaction survey (Chang, ۲۰۱۳), a short version of the Online Satisfaction Survey (Strachota,۲۰۰۳), was used to evaluate the learners’ satisfaction with online courses. It comprises ۲۵ self-report items measuring four types of interaction (learner–content, learner– instructor, learner–learner, and learner–technology interactions) and a general satisfaction. The tool was translated using standard forward–backward technique. Second, psychometric properties, including the face, content, construct, convergent and divergent validities, and reliability were examined using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients. Results: Linguistic and conceptual equivalence of the translated questionnaire was higher than ۱.۵ and content validities values (CVR>۰.۷۸ & CVI>۰.۷۹) were calculated at an acceptable level according to experts. None of ۲۵ items was removed based on face and content validity coefficients. The exploratory factor analysis showed that five factors were identified that predicted ۷۳.۷۲۳% of the total variance. A factors structure with adequate fit indices (Χ۲/df=۲.۲۳<۳ ،RMSEA=۰.۰۶۹ ، GFI=۰.۹۶ ، NFI=۰.۹۷ ، CFI=۰.۹۸, RMR=۰.۰۴۵, SRMR=۰.۰۴۷) based on five secondorder factors (learner–content, learner–instructor, learner–learner, and learner–technology interactions, and general satisfaction) and one second-order factor (total score for academic satisfaction) were confirmed. Reliability of LSS was satisfactory, with McDonald’s omega ranging from ۰.۸۸۰ to ۰.۹۵۵ and Cronbach alpha ranging from ۰.۸۸۱ to ۰. ۹۵۵. The findings confirmed the convergent validity (AVE>۰.۵ and CR>AVE) for each subscale and total scale. Also, ASV