Research Article

Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study

Volume: 13 Number: 1 January 5, 2026

Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study

Abstract

This study aims to develop a Water Literacy Scale for secondary school students. The study was conducted using a survey model, employing secondary schools located across five distinct districts within Trabzon, a city in northeastern Türkiye. A total of 628 students took part in the study, and the data obtained were analyzed with the help of SPSS, Jamovi, and LISREL software. Expert evaluations were incorporated within the survey research framework to verify the content validity of the scale. Construct validity was assessed through both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods. The reliability of the scale was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, item-total correlations, and item discrimination indices based on the upper and lower 27% groups. Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the scale was finalized with 22 items grouped under three sub-dimensions: water knowledge, water attitude, and water behavior. The relationships among the sub-dimensions were examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed strong fit indices indicating excellent model fit. The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with both Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. Furthermore, all subscales demonstrated acceptable convergent validity and composite reliability values. The relationships among the sub-dimensions were found to be significant and moderate in strength.

Keywords

water literacy, validity and reliability, secondary school students

References

  1. Acreman, M. (2004). Water and ethics. Paris: UNESCO, International Hydrological Programme.https://internationalwaterlaw.org/bibliography/articles/Ethics/Water_and_Ecology.pdf
  2. Akbağ, M., Aydoğdu, F., & Rizzo, A. (2025). Developing a Novel Parental Phubbing Scale of mother and father forms for adolescents in Türkiye: A validity and reliability study. Personality and Individual Differences, 235, 112963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112963
  3. Amahmid, O., El Guamri, Y., Yazidi, M., Razoki, B., Kaid Rassou, K., Rakibi, Y., Knini, G., & El Ouardi, T. (2018). Water education in school curricula: impact on children knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards water use. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 28(3), 178–193. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2018.1513446
  4. Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1984). The effect of sampling error on convergence, improper solutions, and goodness-of-fit indices for maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis. Psychometrika, 49(2), 155–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02294170
  5. Ayre, C., & Scally, A. J. (2014). Critical values for Lawshe’s content validity ratio. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 47(1), 79–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748175613513808
  6. Aytaç, E. (2023). Su okuryazarlığı ölçeği geliştirme çalışması [Water literacy scale development study]. [Master’s thesis]. Balıkesir Universtiy.
  7. Aydoğdu, F. (2023). AVE ve CR calculation. Retrieved from https://www.fuataydogdu.com/avecr
  8. Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (1988). On the evaluation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 16(1), 74–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02723327
  9. Bar, V. (1989). Children’s views about the water cycle. Science Education, 73(4), 481–500. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.3730730409
  10. Bates, B. C., Kundzewicz, Z. W., Wu, S., & Palutikof, J. P. (2008). Climate change and water. Geneva, Switzerland: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Secretariat. https://archive.ipcc.ch/pdf/technical-papers/climate-change-water-en.pdf
APA
Karakuş, S., & Akbaş, Y. (2026). Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study. Participatory Educational Research, 13(1), 256-275. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.14.13.1
AMA
1.Karakuş S, Akbaş Y. Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study. PER. 2026;13(1):256-275. doi:10.17275/per.26.14.13.1
Chicago
Karakuş, Samet, and Yavuz Akbaş. 2026. “Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (1): 256-75. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.14.13.1.
EndNote
Karakuş S, Akbaş Y (January 1, 2026) Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study. Participatory Educational Research 13 1 256–275.
IEEE
[1]S. Karakuş and Y. Akbaş, “Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study”, PER, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 256–275, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.14.13.1.
ISNAD
Karakuş, Samet - Akbaş, Yavuz. “Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study”. Participatory Educational Research 13/1 (January 1, 2026): 256-275. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.14.13.1.
JAMA
1.Karakuş S, Akbaş Y. Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study. PER. 2026;13:256–275.
MLA
Karakuş, Samet, and Yavuz Akbaş. “Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 256-75, doi:10.17275/per.26.14.13.1.
Vancouver
1.Samet Karakuş, Yavuz Akbaş. Water Literacy of Secondary School Students: A Scale Development Study. PER. 2026 Jan. 1;13(1):256-75. doi:10.17275/per.26.14.13.1