The Preservice Elementary Teacher Affect Scale for Science: Pilot Study

• In Event: Division H Vice-Presidential Invited Session: Fresh and Innovative Graduate Student Work in School-Based Research, Evaluation, and Assessment

Abstract

Preservice teacher attitudes are considered to be strong predictive measures of inservice competence and, therefore, future student outcomes. Much of the research surrounding the measurement of motivational attitudes and beliefs focuses on efficacy and competence issues and largely ignores the role of affect. The current study proposes to address this shortcoming by the creation of a valid and reliable scale, the Preservice Elementary Teacher Affect Scale for Science (PETAS-S). This instrument is designed specifically to measure the level of positive affect towards science in preservice elementary teachers. The scale is anticipated to assess positive affect as a separate unidimensional factor of attitude and is expected to aid instructors in better understanding the complex relationship of their students’ self-concept and their beliefs about teaching young children science.

Authors

• Otis Wilder, University of Central Florida

• Parul Acharya, Columbus State University

• Malcolm B. Butler, University of Central Florida