Applicability of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS) for Korean Student-Athletes: A Rasch Rating Scale Model Approach

The academic and athletic identities of student-athletes influence their development and quality of life. The Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS) was developed to assess dual academic and athletic identity. Scale (AAIS) to assess these in the American higher education context, with limited applicability in other cultural settings. This study examined AAIS’s psychometric properties among Korean university student-athletes using the Rasch rating scale model. A sample of 245 student-athletes completed the AAIS, comprising five academic and six athletic identity items. Principal component analysis supported the unidimensionality of both identity factors. Item fit analysis showed that one academic and one athletic identity item exceeded the acceptable fit range (>1.30), indicating misfit. The item – person map suggested that some items did not fully match respondents’ trait levels. Rating scale analysis indicated that a 5-point scale showed improved functioning over the original 6-point scale. Thus, after modifications (5-point scale, refining misfitting items), the AAIS is a useful measure for Korean student-athletes.