Reliability and validity of the Statistical Anxiety Scale among students in Singapore and Australia

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter K. H. Chew ◽  
Denise B. Dillon

Given the negative relationships between statistics anxiety and statistics achievement, it is important for researchers and instructors to have a reliable and valid measure to identify students with statistics anxiety. The purpose of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of Vigil-Colet, Lorenzo-Seva, and Condon's (2008) Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) among students in Singapore and Australia. Unlike the commonly used Statistical Anxiety Rating Scale, the SAS provides a specific measure of statistics anxiety. Participants were 197 undergraduates (79.2% female) in the James Cook University Psychology programs at the Singaporean (70.1%) and Australian (29.9 %) campuses. Acceptable internal consistency reliabilities, ranging from 0.88 to 0.95 for the three factors of the SAS, were found in the current study. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a modified three-factor model best describe the data. Scores on the SAS shared positive correlations with another measure of statistics anxiety, and negative correlations with a measure of attitudes toward statistics. The results provided support for the use of the SAS among Singaporean and Australian psychology undergraduates.

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402110013
Author(s):  
Monique O’Bryant ◽  
Prathiba Natesan Batley ◽  
Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie

The aims of this study were to validate an instrument that measured statistics anxiety and to examine how attitudes toward statistics predict statistics anxiety using the Attitudes Toward Statistics (ATS) Scale for a sample of 323 undergraduate social science majors enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States. A confirmatory factor analysis suggested retaining a revised two-factor model of the Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) to measure statistics anxiety, namely, help and interpretation anxiety ([Formula: see text] = 49.37, df = 38.13, p = .105, comparative fit index [CFI] = .959, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = .035, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .076). An examination of discriminant validity of the scores of the SAS with scores of the ATS subscales revealed that statistics anxiety and attitudes toward statistics are distinct constructs. Structural equational modeling was used to determine whether attitude toward course and attitude toward field were predictors of examination anxiety and asking for help anxiety. Of the two factors of the ATS scale, attitudes toward field and attitudes toward course, the latter predicted examination anxiety better than the former did, although both were moderate predictors of examination anxiety. We recommend that statistics educators consider the role of statistics anxiety as well as attitudes toward statistics and the field when designing their pedagogical approach.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Lavidas ◽  
Dionysios Manesis ◽  
Vasilios Gialamas

The purpose of this study was to adapt the Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS) for a Greek student population. The STARS was administered to 890 Tertiary Education students in two Greek universities. It was performed a cross-validation study to examine the factorial structure and the psychometric properties with a series of confirmatory factor analyses. Results revealed a correlated six first-order factor model which provided the best fit to the data compared to a six-factor model with one superordinate factor. All six factors of the Greek version of the STARS presented convergent and discriminant validity and were internally consistent. Implications and limitations are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofía Buelga ◽  
Belén Martínez-Ferrer ◽  
María-Jesús Cava ◽  
Jessica Ortega-Barón

The main goal of the present study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the revised version of the Adolescent Cyber-Victimization Scale (CYBVICS). This scale is composed of 18 items that assess direct and indirect cyber-victimization. Two subsamples participated in the present study. Sample 1 included 1318 adolescents (47.4% boys) from 12 to 16 years old (M = 13.89, SD = 1.32). Sample 2 was composed of 1188 adolescents (51.5% girls) from 12 to 16 years old (M = 14.19, SD = 1.80). First, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted on sample 1. Results yielded a bifactor structure: direct cyber-victimization and indirect cyber-victimization. To confirm the structure of the CYBVICS, we selected sample 2 to perform confirmatory factor analysis and test its convergent validity with theoretically related measures. The results supported the reliability and validity of the two-factor model. In addition, measurement invariance was established. Related to convergent validity, positive correlations between cyber-victimization and peer victimization, depressive symptoms, and offensive communication with the mother and the father were found. Moreover, negative correlations were found between cyber-victimization and open communication with the mother and the father and family self-esteem.


2010 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsung-Yuan Hsiao

The Statistical Anxiety Rating Scale has been conceptualized as multidimensional. Three of the six theoretical dimensions, Interpretation Anxiety, Test and Class Anxiety, and Fear of Asking for Help, tap anxiety about statistics; the other three dimensions, Worth of Statistics, Computation Self-concept, and Fear of Statistics Teachers, measure perceptions and attitudes toward statistics. This conceptualization of a second-order factor model consisting of two superordinate factors and six first-order factors has remained empirically untested. In 77 graduate students (15 men, 62 women; M age = 27.6 yr.) enrolled in applied statistics courses in Taiwan, a confirmatory factor analysis of two competing models based on subscale scores yielded results supporting the multidimensional construct validity of the scale. As multidimensionality was previously supported based on item scores, but not subscale scores, the findings are interpreted as partially consistent with previous research testing the theoretical factor structure of the scale.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Di Riso ◽  
Daphne Chessa ◽  
Andrea Bobbio ◽  
Adriana Lis

The factorial structure of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS; Spence, 1997 ) was examined in a community sample of 1,397 Italian children from 8 to 10 years old. Sex and age differences as regards anxiety symptoms were also analyzed. The convergent validity of the SCAS was explored through correlations with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997 ). The use of confirmatory factor analysis supported the six correlated factor model of the SCAS with only minor differences compared to the original work by Spence (1997 ), and it was therefore named SCAS-it. Modifications to the original SCAS were supported by methodologically, theoretically, and culturally based arguments. The internal consistency of the SCAS-it was acceptable. Females displayed significantly higher levels of anxiety symptoms than males, while age differences were nonsignificant. Positive correlations were found between the SCAS-it and selected subscales of the SDQ. The results support the SCAS model, with few exceptions that do not threaten the utility of Spence’s tool.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 122-122
Author(s):  
Gema Perez-Rojo ◽  
Javier López ◽  
Cristina Velasco ◽  
Cristina Noriega ◽  
José Ángel Martínez-Huertas ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe behavior problems in residents may affect professionals’ performance at work, quality of work life, and even their health. Thus, it is important to have instruments that allow to estimate their prevalence. The objective of this study was to validate the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist-Nursing Homes (RMBPC-NH; Allen et al., 2003) in a Spanish population. Specifically, it was tested the factor structure of the RMBPC-NH proposed by Wagner et al. (1995). Moreover, the relevance of the different types of problems for the working performance, at the level of individuals and institutions, was explored.MethodIn the present study, a total of 200 professionals participated.ResultsA Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted using WLSMV estimator in Mplus 7. Results showed a good fit to the data for the four-factor model (?2(813) = 1733.73, p<.001, CFI = .90, TIL = .90, RMSEA = .08). Thus, it can be concluded that the original factor structure proposed by Wagner et al. (1995) and replicated by Allen et al. (2003) can also be applied to Spanish staff nursing homes. The reliability of the scale was adequate (α from .86 to .93). Moreover, different descriptive and correlational results showed that both the factor scores of the Spanish adaptation of the RMBPC-NH and the importance of each type of problem were associated to different variable related.DiscussionAfter analyzing the factor structure, reliability and validity of the adaptation of the RMBPC-NH scale for Spanish staff nursing homes it has found that it has good psychometric properties, so it could be a useful tool for this population.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grant number PSI2016-79803-R).


Author(s):  
Radka Čopková ◽  
Leoš Šafár

The Short Dark Triad is a scale used to capture three aversive personality traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy on the subclinical level. The present study aimed to verify the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Short Dark Triad scale in three studies. The first two studies aimed to examine the reliability of the scale. The aim of Study 1 was to examine the factor structure of SD3. A three-factor model consisting of three latent intercorrelated factors in a unidimensional and bifactorial model were examined on a sample of 588 participants. Study 2 aimed to test the consistency of the results over time (test–retest reliability) on the sample of 117 participants. In Study 3, convergent and divergent validity was examined on the sample of 333 participants. For both kinds of validity examination, the Slovak version of NEO-FFI was used. The internal consistency of the subscales and test results, the same as the retest results, were satisfactory. The relationships between the scales were found to be significant. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the original three-factor model. Significant interrelations have been established between Machiavellianism and openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness; narcissism and neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness; psychopathy and openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The Short Dark Triad achieved satisfactory values of reliability and validity; therefore, it can be used on the Slovak population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Lu Liu

With the purpose of developing an instrument for measuring statistics anxiety in the online or hybrid setting, this study tested the newly developed instrument in two stages. Results on item selection and exploratory factor analysis based on pilot testing (n = 115) are presented. Results on classical item analysis, the confirmatory factor analysis, the measurement invariance test results, and the predictive and discriminant validity of the final model based on formal testing (n = 709) are presented. The resulting Statistics Anxiety Scale in the Online or Hybrid setting instrument (SASOH) has 27 items and four dimensions. The four dimensions are Class and Interpretation Anxiety (CI), Fear of Asking for Help Anxiety (FA), Online System Anxiety (OS), and Pre-Conception Anxiety (PC). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the four-factor SASOH model represents an adequate description of statistics anxiety in an online or hybrid setting. Moreover, multiple-groups confirmatory factor analysis affirmed that the resulting model achieved at least partial measurement and structural invariance across gender and program. In addition, attitudes toward statistics significantly predicts the four factors of statistics anxiety, and the discriminant validity from mathematics anxiety was confirmed. Recommendations for future studies are also provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-482
Author(s):  
Ronald Toro ◽  
Juan García-García ◽  
Flor Zaldívar-Basurto

La rumiación ira es pensamiento perseverativo sobre un evento personalmente significativo ocurrido a la persona o las demás que conlleva a la ira y se constituye como factor de riesgo para la agresión. El objetivo fue realizar un análisis factorial confirmatorio e invarianza por sexo y edades de la Anger Rumination Scale [ARS]. Se conformó una muestra no probabilística de 640 personas con entre 18 y 63 años (M = 31.07, SD = 11.27), agrupadas por sexos (252 hombres, 378 mujeres) y edades (278 menores de 25 años, 352 mayores de 25 años). Los instrumentos fueron el ARS y el cuestionario de agresión reactiva y proactiva RPQ. Se encontró que el ARS presenta un ajuste favorable en un modelo de cuatro factores correlacionados con covarianzas residuales. A su vez, resultó invariante entre sexos y edades luego de imponer restricciones progresivas en el modelo confirmado, y presentó correlaciones significativas con la agresión reactiva y proactiva como evidencias de la validez de criterio predictivo. Se concluyó que el ARS presenta indicadores adecuados de fiabilidad y validez para ser usado en el contexto colombiano. Anger rumination is perseverative thinking about a personally significant event that occurred to the person or others that leads to anger and constitutes a risk factor for aggression. The aim was to perform a confirmatory factor analysis and invariance by sex and age of the Anger Rumination Scale [ARS]. A non-probabilistic sample of 640 people between 18 and 63 years old (M = 31.07, SD = 11.27), grouped by sex (252 men, 378 women) and ages (278 under 25 years old, 352 over 25 years old) was formed. The instruments were the ARS and the RPQ reactive and proactive aggression questionnaire. It was found that the ARS presents a favorable fit in a four-factor model correlated with residual covariances. In turn, it was invariant between sexes and ages after imposing progressive restrictions on the confirmed model and presented significant correlations with reactive and proactive aggression as evidence of the validity of predictive criteria. It was concluded that the ARS presents adequate indicators of reliability and validity to be used in the Colombian context.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 734-742
Author(s):  
Youngmi Kim ◽  
Kyeongmo Kim ◽  
Shinhye Lee

Purpose: We tested the reliability and validity of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) in a sample of children living in orphanages in South Korea. Methods: Our study sample consisted of 334 children aged 13–18 obtained using a convenience sampling method. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis to identify the factor structure of the 24 self-efficacy items and used a Pearson correlation to explore the scale’s validity. Results: The findings show the SEQ-C is a reliable scale with a three-factor model measuring social, academic, and emotional self-efficacy. Construct validity was also supported by finding a significant negative correlation between self-efficacy and depression. Conclusions: Our study informs social workers and researchers that the SEQ-C measure is a useful tool for practical evaluation and intervention that can be used for children with disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds in South Korea.


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