Validation and Use of the Catholic School Graduate Characteristics Inventory‪.‬

Scales and subscales to assess the desirable characteristics of Catholic school graduates were developed and validated using a sample of 557 alumni of Australian Catholic high schools. Exploratory factor analysis supported a 4 scale structure (viz., Religious Faith & Spiritual Development, Personal Integration, Social Responsibility, and Life-long Learning Skills). The utility of this instrument, the Catholic School Graduate Characteristics Inventory (CSGCI), is enhanced by the optional subdividing of each scale into 3 internally consistent subscales. The use of the CSGCI revealed statistically significant differences in the characteristics of Catholic school graduates according to gender and year of graduation. These results suggest that the characteristics of graduates are not static and warrant ongoing investigation by school and system administrators. BACKGROUND