Diverse students' perceptions of diversity and inclusion in higher education: A critical review of questionnaires

Abstract As the primary beneficiaries of education, diverse students' perceptions of practices on diversity and inclusion policies in higher education are crucial for understanding the progress and growth and identifying the areas that require further attention. This study reviews eleven questionnaires that capture diverse students' perceptions of diversity and inclusion‐related aspects of higher education, with the aim of assisting researchers in selecting the most relevant measure based on the purpose of their research. Most of the reviewed questionnaires demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. The Students' Perceptions of Diversity (SPD) questionnaire and the Scale of Perceptions about University Inclusion (SPUI) were identified as the most appropriate questionnaires, as they possess adequate psychometric properties and address the perceptions of students from diverse backgrounds on diversity and inclusion at the higher education level. The Inclusive Management in Tertiary Institutes Scale (IMTIS) was another psychometrically valid instrument that employed more current terminology and adequately addressed the inclusion component at the tertiary level. This paper serves as a useful resource to facilitate the appropriate choice of questionnaires that measure diverse students' perceptions of diversity and inclusion.