Development of Science Anxiety Scale for Primary School Students

GÜZELLER C. O., DOĞRU M.

SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH, vol.109, no.2, pp.189-202, 2012 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 109 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11205-011-9894-6
  • Journal Name: SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.189-202
  • Keywords: Science anxiety scale, Science education, Primary school students, Structural equation modeling, CONFIRMATORY FACTOR-ANALYSIS, OF-FIT INDEXES, MATHEMATICS ANXIETY, RATING-SCALE, MANIFEST ANXIETY, VALIDITY, PREDICTORS, ATTITUDES
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The principal aim of the study is to develop a new scale Science Anxiety Scale and to examine its the psychometric properties and construct validity of the Science Anxiety Scale in a sample of 797 primary school students. Exploratory factor analysis was applied and found to have a two-dimensional structure. Confirmatory factor analyses provide evidence for a solid two-dimension structure reflecting the theorized construct: personal and environmental. Also, for convergent validity, item reliability, construct reliability and average variance values were calculated and it was found that item reliability and construct reliability values generally provided the required criteria. The average variance extracted value had a value below the criteria value for both sub-dimensions. Discriminant validity was above the criteria value in all dimensions. The reliability of the Science Anxiety Scale scales appeared to be satisfactory, with good internal consistency. The Science Anxiety Scale was found to be reliable and valid for the Turkish primary student context with a few exceptions.