@article {280, title = {Developing SENSES: Student experience of non-shared environment scales}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {13}, year = {2018}, month = {09}, pages = {1-16}, abstract = {

Twin and adoption studies find that non-shared environmental (NSE) factors account for variance in most behavioural traits and offer an explanation for why genetically identical individuals differ. Using data from a qualitative hypothesis-generating study we designed a quantitative measure of pupils\’ non-shared experiences at the end of formal compulsory education (SENSES: Student Experiences of Non-Shared Environment Scales). In Study 1 SENSES was administered to n = 117 16\–19 year old twin pairs. Exploratory Factor Analysis yielded a 49-item 10 factor solution which explained 63\% of the variance in responses. SENSES showed good internal consistency and convergent and divergent validity. In Study 2 this factor structure was confirmed with data from n = 926 twin pairs and external validity was demonstrated via significant correlations between 9 SENSES factors and both public examination performance and life satisfaction. These studies lend preliminary support to SENSES but further research is required to confirm its psychometric properties; to assess whether individual differences in SENSES are explained by NSE effects; and to explore whether SENSES explains variance in achievement and wellbeing.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0202543}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202543}, author = {Yerdelen, Sundus and Durksen, Tracy and Kaili Rimfeld and Robert Plomin and Asbury, Kathryn} }