The Evolution Usefulness Scale: Development, Reliability, and Validity

Year 2021, Volume: 29 Issue: 3, 778 - 788, 01.09.2021

Muhammed Salman , Turan Güven

https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.933194

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to develop a scale to measure the perceived usefulness of the evolutionary theory among biology students who are pre-service teachers.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Firstly, the related literature was analysed to compose a scale, and then the item pool was constructed. The pilot form of the scale was administered to the biology teacher candidates, and the factorial structure and reliability were analysed via explanatory factor analyses and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. Then, the final form of the scale was composed based on the results of the pilot testing. The study group of the research included 222 biology teacher candidates. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to obtain proof on construct validity.
Findings: As a result of these analyses, it was decided that the scale has a unidimensional structure with 58.6% explained variance. As for reliability, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was estimated, and it was found as .94, which indicates a high level of inter-consistency. At the end of the study, it was concluded that the Evolution Usefulness Scale (EUS), which includes 13 items, can measure the perceived usefulness of the theory of evolution in a valid and reliable manner.
Highlights: It is thought that developing a scale that will determine whether the theory of evolution is useful in understanding other biology topics will fill the gap in the field.

Keywords

The theory of evolution, Scale development, The usefulness scale, Biology education

Evrim Yararlılık Ölçeği : Geliştirme, Güvenirlilik ve Geçerlilik Çalışmaları

Abstract

Çalışmanın amacı: Bu çalışmanın amacı evrim teorisini öğrenmenin biyolojinin diğer konularını öğrenmeye faydasının olup olmadığını belirlemek için evrim yararlılık ölçeği geliştirmektir
Materyal ve Yöntem: Ölçek için ilgili literatür incelenmiş ve madde havuzu oluşturulmuştur. Ölçeğin pilot formu biyoloji öğretmen adaylarına uygulanmış, faktör yapısı ve güvenirliği açıklayıcı faktör analizleri ve Cronbach’s Alpha katsayısı ile incelenmiştir. Daha sonra, pilot test sonuçlarına göre ölçeğin son formu oluşturulmuştur. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu 222 biyoloji öğretmeni adayından oluşmaktadır. Yapı geçerliliğini kanıtlamak için açıklayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizleri yapılmıştır.
Bulgular: Analizler sonucunda ölçeğin tek boyutlu bir yapıya sahip olduğu ve % 58.6 varyans açıkladığı görülmüştür. Ölçeğin güvenirliliğini incelemek amacıyla Cronbach Alfa iç tutarlılık katsayısı hesaplanmış ve 0,94 olduğu bulunmuştur. Çalışma sonunda 13 maddeden oluşan Evrim Yararlılık Ölçeği'nin (EYÖ) evrim teorisinin algılanan faydasını geçerli ve güvenilir bir şekilde ölçebileceği sonucuna varıldı.
Önemli Vurgular: Evrim teorisinin biyolojinin diğer konularını anlamaya faydasının olup olmadığını belirleyecek bir ölçek geliştirmenin alandaki boşluğu dolduracağı düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

Evrim teorisi, Ölçek geliştirme, Yararlılık ölçeği, Biyoloji eğitimi

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