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Development and psychometric evaluation of the E-sports Attitude Scale

Year 2026, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 308 - 329, 02.01.2026
https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.1662535

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and conduct a comprehensive psychometric evaluation of a scale designed to measure university students’ attitudes toward e-sports. The research was carried out using a correlational research design. Two independent samples selected using maximum variation sampling were utilized: 797 students participated in the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while 794 students were included in the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA results revealed a four-factor structure -socialization, individualization, career, and risks- explaining 64% of the total variance. The CFA supported this structure with excellent model fit indices (CFI = .99, TLI = .98, RMSEA = .05, SRMR = .06). Reliability analyses demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α ranging from .89 to .93, McDonald’s ω between .90 and .94, and stratified α (.94) as well as Revelle’s ω (.97) for the total scale. Furthermore, measurement invariance across gender was examined and supported, indicating that the scale functions equivalently for male and female respondents. Additionally, Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis based on ordinal logistic regression revealed no significant gender-related item bias, reinforcing item-level fairness. These findings provide strong evidence for the validity, reliability, and fairness of the E-sports Attitude Scale, confirming its suitability for measuring attitudes toward e-sports in higher education contexts.

Ethical Statement

Fırat University, 10.01.2023-13617.

Project Number

(Project No: 122K965)” supported by TUBITAK within the scope of 1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.

References

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  • Bediou, B., Adams, D.M., Mayer, R.E., Tipton, E., Green, C.S., & Bavelier, D. (2018). Meta-analysis of action video game impact on perceptual, attentional, and cognitive skills. Psychological Bulletin, 144(1), 77–110. https://doi.org/10.1037 /bul0000130
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Development and psychometric evaluation of the E-sports Attitude Scale

Year 2026, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 308 - 329, 02.01.2026
https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.1662535

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and conduct a comprehensive psychometric evaluation of a scale designed to measure university students’ attitudes toward e-sports. The research was carried out using a correlational research design. Two independent samples selected using maximum variation sampling were utilized: 797 students participated in the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while 794 students were included in the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA results revealed a four-factor structure -socialization, individualization, career, and risks- explaining 64% of the total variance. The CFA supported this structure with excellent model fit indices (CFI = .99, TLI = .98, RMSEA = .05, SRMR = .06). Reliability analyses demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α ranging from .89 to .93, McDonald’s ω between .90 and .94, and stratified α (.94) as well as Revelle’s ω (.97) for the total scale. Furthermore, measurement invariance across gender was examined and supported, indicating that the scale functions equivalently for male and female respondents. Additionally, Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis based on ordinal logistic regression revealed no significant gender-related item bias, reinforcing item-level fairness. These findings provide strong evidence for the validity, reliability, and fairness of the E-sports Attitude Scale, confirming its suitability for measuring attitudes toward e-sports in higher education contexts.

Ethical Statement

Fırat University, 10.01.2023-13617.

Supporting Institution

This research is an outcome of the project titled “Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of E-Sports Teaching Program for University Students (Project No: 122K965)” supported by TUBITAK within the scope of 1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.

Project Number

(Project No: 122K965)” supported by TUBITAK within the scope of 1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.

References

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  • Adachi, P.J.C., & Willoughby, T. (2013b). Do video games promote positive youth development? Journal of Adolescent Research, 28(2), 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558412464522
  • Agresti, A. (2010). Analysis of ordinal categorical data (2nd ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470594001
  • Akkaya, S., Şen, B.G., & Kapıdere, M. (2021). A multi-directional assessment related to E-sports as a new game experience field and socialising tool. Atatürk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 25(3), 968-988. https://doi.org/10.53487/ataunisosbil.944458
  • Bediou, B., Adams, D.M., Mayer, R.E., Tipton, E., Green, C.S., & Bavelier, D. (2018). Meta-analysis of action video game impact on perceptual, attentional, and cognitive skills. Psychological Bulletin, 144(1), 77–110. https://doi.org/10.1037 /bul0000130
  • Brown, T.A. (2015). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
  • Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2010). Handbook of data analysis for the social sciences: Statistics, research design, SPSS applications, and interpretation (11th ed.). Pegem Akademi.
  • Byrne, B. (2016). Structural equation modeling with Amos (3rd ed.). Routledge.
  • Byrne, B.M., Shavelson, R.J., & Muthén, B. (1989). Testing for the equivalence of factor covariance and mean structures: The issue of partial measurement invariance. Psychological Bulletin, 105(3), 456-466. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.105.3.456
  • Chen, F.F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 14(3), 464 504. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510701301834
  • Choi, S.W., Gibbons, L.E., & Crane, P.K. (2011). lordif: An R package for detecting differential item functioning using iterative hybrid ordinal logistic regression/item response theory and Monte Carlo simulations. Journal of Statistical Software, 39(8), 1 30. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v039.i08
  • Cole, J.D. (2023). Understanding school counselors' perceptions of esports and igaming as a career choice [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/j9602803m
  • Costello, A.B., & Osborne, J.W. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: Four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 10(7), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.7275/jyj1-4868
  • Creswell, J. (2015). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (5th ed.). Pearson.
  • Crites Jr, S.L., Fabrigar, L.R., & Petty, R.E. (1994). Measuring the affective and cognitive properties of attitudes: Conceptual and methodological issues. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 20(6), 619-634. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167294206001
  • Çokluk, Ö., Şekercioğlu, G. & Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2014). Multivariate statistics for the social sciences: Applications of SPSS and LISREL (4th ed.). Pegem Akademi.
  • Delello, J.A., McWhorter, R.R., & Camp, K.M. (2021). Using emerging technologies to develop professional competencies in higher education. Education and Information Technologies, 26(2), 1825-1846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10337-y
  • Delello, J.A., McWhorter, R.R., Roberts, P., Dockery, H.S., De Giuseppe, T., & Corona, F. (2021). The rise of esports: Insights into the perceived benefits and risks for college students. International Journal of esports Research (IJER), 1(1), 1-19. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJER.20210101.oa5
  • DeVellis, R.F. (2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
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There are 85 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Scale Development
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Yunus Emre Karakaya 0000-0002-9858-2103

Seda Demir Ayçiçek 0000-0003-4230-5593

Selahattin Gelbal 0000-0001-5181-7262

Sebahattin Devecioğlu 0000-0002-8205-295X

Fazilet Özge Maviş Sevim 0000-0002-4120-5374

Emin Tamer Yenen 0000-0003-2359-3518

Melih Dikmen 0000-0001-7015-6236

Project Number (Project No: 122K965)” supported by TUBITAK within the scope of 1001 - Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.
Submission Date March 21, 2025
Acceptance Date September 28, 2025
Publication Date January 2, 2026
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Karakaya, Y. E., Demir Ayçiçek, S., Gelbal, S., … Devecioğlu, S. (2026). Development and psychometric evaluation of the E-sports Attitude Scale. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, 13(1), 308-329. https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.1662535

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