Development of the Life Science Anxiety Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

Abstract

The level of anxiety experienced by students in a life science course can shape not only their academic performance but also their emotional development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a scale for examining primary school students' anxiety about life science lessons. The study was conducted using a survey model, and the data were collected face-to-face. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to analyze the data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed with 470 and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with the participation of 437 primary school students. As a result of these analyses, a scale consisting of two factors and 15 items was obtained. In the EFA, the eigenvalues for the anxiety and comfort factors ranged between 4,278 and 2,251, explaining 43,528% of the total variance. Furthermore, the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient value of the scale was calculated as 0.85. The two-factor structure of the scale was confirmed by the CFA (x²/sd=2.08; RMSEA=0.050; SRMR=0.045; NFI=0.94; NNFI=0.96; CFI=0.97; GFI=0.95; AGFI=0.93). The study found that the scale is valid and reliable. The research suggested that the scale can be used to examine primary school students' anxiety about life science lessons.

Keywords

• Life Science
• anxiety
• scale development
• primary school students

Hayat Bilgisi Kaygı Ölçeği’nin Geliştirilmesi: Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması

Abstract

Hayat bilgisi dersinde öğrencilerin yaşadığı kaygı düzeyi; yalnızca akademik performanslarını değil, aynı zamanda duygusal gelişimlerini de biçimlendirebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın amacı, ilkokul öğrencilerinin hayat bilgisi dersine yönelik kaygılarının incelenmesi için kullanılacak ölçek geliştirilmesidir. Çalışma tarama modeli ile yürütülmüş ve veriler yüz yüze olarak toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde açımlayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi kullanılmıştır. Açımlayıcı faktör analizi 470 ilkokul öğrencisinin katılımıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Doğrulayıcı faktör analizinin örneklemini ise 437 ilkokul öğrencisi oluşturmuştur. Bu analizler sonucunda iki alt boyut ve 15 maddeden oluşan ölçek elde edilmiştir. Açımlayıcı faktör analizinde, endişe ve rahatlık alt boyutlarının öz değerlerinin 4,278 ile 2,251 olduğu görülüştür. Bu alt boyutlar, toplam varyansın %43,528’ini açıklamıştır. Ayrıca ölçeğin Cronbach Alfa güvenirlik değeri ,85 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Ölçeğin iki faktörlü yapısı doğrulayıcı faktör analiziyle doğrulanmıştır (x²/sd=2,08; RMSEA=,050; SRMR=,045; NFI=,94; NNFI=,96; CFI=,97; GFI=,95; AGFI=,93). Çalışma sonucunda, ölçeğin geçerli ve güvenilir olduğu belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada geliştirilen bu ölçeğin ilkokul öğrencilerinin hayat bilgisi dersine yönelik kaygılarının incelenmesi için kullanılabileceği önerilmiştir.

Keywords

• Hayat bilgisi
• kaygı
• ölçek geliştirme
• ilkokul öğrencileri

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