Semantic Differential for Third through Fifth Grade Students

A semantic differential attitude scale was administered to 238 third through fifth grade students in an individualized instructional program. None of the students had any difficulty using the instrument with the directions provided. Coefficient alpha reliabilities ranged from .86 to .92 for the nine basic scales. There was little difference in the reliability between the grades. The scale was again, 7 mo. later, administered to the same students to assess the long-term stability of the scale and students' attitudes. The coefficients ranged from .35 to .44 for those scales expected to have some consistency while it was near zero for those scales not expected to maintain consistency. Properly constructed and presented, the semantic differential is both usable and internally reliable with students as young as third grade. Selected questions show reasonable long-term stability.