Scale development and validation of explorer qualities among primary school students in a VUCA world

In today’s VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, it is vital to nurture explorer qualities, including courage, learning, appreciation, and perseverance, in students from an early stage of education. The present study aimed to develop a holistic Explorer Qualities Scale (EQS) to measure these qualities in primary school students, a topic rarely investigated in prior research. The sample consisted of 475 students in Grades 4–6 aged 8–14 years (52.4% boys; mean age = 10.62 years) in Hong Kong. The results indicated that the EQS is a valid and reliable measure. The CFA confirmed the hypothesized four-factor structure of explorer qualities, indicating a good model fit (CFI = 0.932, RMSEA = 0.063, SRMR = 0.042) and high factor loadings (0.617–0.858). Additionally, satisfactory internal consistency was observed for the subscales (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.879–0.950, McDonald’s omega = 0.881–0.950), as well as measurement invariance across subgroups defined by gender, age, and grade. Moreover, correlations between the EQS and its subscales with psychosocial outcomes, including positive identity, social connectedness, and life satisfaction, showed good concurrent validity. The development of the EQS sheds light on how educators and practitioners can effectively assess and nurture students’ explorer qualities, helping them develop the competencies needed to thrive in an unpredictable future within the VUCA era.