Abstract
AIM: The purpose of this study was to develop a marginality tool that speaks specifically to the domain of nursing education.
BACKGROUND: Minority nursing students in the United States have consistently reported feelings associated with the process of marginalization. Given the dearth of instruments that measure marginality directly, the concept has not been sufficiently investigated in nursing students
METHOD: The Englund Marginality Index (EMI) was administered to 323 nursing students currently enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program in Wisconsin. A psychometric evaluation of the index was performed.
RESULTS: The EMI consists of 19 items and explained 70 percent of the variance. Cronbach's [alpha] coefficient for the instrument was .90. Test-retest correlation was strong at r = .92, a strong support for the temporal stability of the instrument.
CONCLUSION: The findings from this study demonstrate that the EMI is a valid and reliable measure of marginality.