ERIC Number: EJ1457590
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2576-6767
Available Date: N/A
The Importance of Improving Youths' Attitudes toward Science (TAS): A Validation of a Short Form Assessment of Attitudes in Science Constructs for Fourth Grade (AASC-4)
Sebastian Diaz; Ashley Roseno; Virginia Stage; Shawn Moore; Allender Lynch; Dan Dickerson; Melani W. Duffrin
Journal of STEM Outreach, v1 n1 2018
If children have opportunities to develop positive attitudes toward learning science, the pipeline to science careers can be maintained and enhanced. This article describes the development and validation of a short form, 24-item, Assessment of Attitudes in Science Constructs for Fourth Grade (AASC-4) for utilization in future research aimed at improving youths' Attitudes Toward Science (ATS). A researcher developed long form, 50-item AASC-4 was administered in an intervention and comparison, pre- and post-implementation science education study (n=1,117). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to reduce the original 50-item AASC-4 to the current 24-item form. The current AASC-4 included 24 questions, and eight constructs. Reliability measures of the short-form AASC-4 improved reliability for Fear of Failure on Course from 0.200 to 0.694, Value of Science from 0.478 to 0.779, Attitudes of Family (Parents) toward Science from 0.706 to 0.754, and Perception of the Science Teacher from 0.700 to 0.791. Utilization of the validated constructs within the short-form AASC-4 may help researchers and educators identify science education intervention features that have positive impact on youths' ATS.
Descriptors: Elementary School Science, Elementary School Students, Elementary School Curriculum, Elementary School Teachers, Grade 4, Science Instruction, Science Interests, Science Activities, Scientific Attitudes, Foods Instruction, Parent Influence, Teacher Influence, Test Validity, Test Reliability, Test Construction, Science Education
Journal of STEM Outreach. PMB 0367, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203. e-mail: jstemoutreach@vanderbilt.edu; Web site: https://www.jstemoutreach.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina; Ohio
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A