Development of The Selçuk Decision-Making Skills Scale: Validity And Reliability Study

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 339 - 357, 31.12.2025

Türkan Yiğit Kolçak , Gökhan Kayılı

https://doi.org/10.51535/tell.1822984

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a measurement tool for assessing decision-making skills in children aged three to six. The research employed a correlational research design, a quantitative approach that investigates the relationships among two or more variables without researcher intervention, in conjunction with systematic scale development procedures. The item pool was based on everyday situations children often encounter. After expert evaluation and pilot testing, the scale was finalized with 39 items. Participants were selected using random cluster sampling, and the final version of the scale was administered to 392 preschool children (208 females, 53.1%; 184 males, 46.9%) attending preschools in Konya. The Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was .971, and the test-retest reliability correlation was .815 (p > 0.05). Factor analysis showed that the items clustered into six dimensions: decision-making in clothing, food, activity selection, shopping, responsibility, and problem-solving, accounting for 63% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable goodness-of-fit indices: RMSEA ≤ 0.05, IFI, TLI, and CFI ≥ 0.90, and GFI ≥ 0.85. Reliability was further assessed by dividing the items into odd and even groups, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.932 for both halves, and Guttman’s Cronbach’s alpha for split-half reliability of 0.974. The correlation coefficient between the halves was 0.950. Item discriminant analysis showed a significant difference between the upper group (74.28 ± 2.53) and lower group (32.82 ± 10.20), with a t-value of t = -40.640 (p < 0.001). The scale's total score ranged from 0 to 78, with a mean score of 54.96 ± 17.43 and a median of 56. In conclusion, the "Selçuk Decision-Making Skills Scale" is a valid and reliable tool for assessing decision-making skills in preschool children.

Keywords

Early Childhood Development , Decision-Making Skills , Scale Development , Validity , Reliability

Ethical Statement

The research has an ethics committee permit from Selçuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee with the date 31.05.2023 and project number 592.

Supporting Institution

Not applicable

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