We introduce a methodology to test models with spatial variations of the fine-structure constant \alpha , based on the calculation of the angular power spectrum of these measurements .
This methodology enables comparisons of observations and theoretical models through their predictions on the statistics of the \alpha variation .
Here we apply it to the case of symmetron models .
We find no indications of deviations from the standard behavior , with current data providing an upper limit to the strength of the symmetron coupling to gravity ( \log { \beta ^ { 2 } } < -0.9 ) when this is the only free parameter , and not able to constrain the model when also the symmetry breaking scale factor a _ { SSB } is free to vary .