Examining the Math Anxiety Scale in Turkish Middle School Students Using Rasch Analysis

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: Applications of the Rasch Measurement Model

Abstract

Negative experiences in math are common, in which students feel tension, fear, or nervous about the subject. The Math Anxiety Scale (MAS; Bindak, 2005) is a widely-used scale in Turkey that measures middle school students’ math anxiety. To bolster the psychometric evidence of the MAS scores, this study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the scores on the previously-developed 10-item MAS. Rasch Analysis was used to analyze the data from 414 Turkish middle school students. Rasch Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) were also conducted. Results from this study demonstrate psychometric support for an 8-item MAS and may provide additional reliability and validity evidence for future research using the scale.

Authors

• Ilker Soyturk, Kent State University

• Busra Basak Ozyurt Soyturk, Marmara University