Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Physical Review Physics Education Research
Volume
18
Issue
1
Publisher
American Physical Society
School
School of Education
RAS ID
43586
Funders
National Science Foundation, IUSE Grant No. 2013300 Department of Defense, NDEP Grant No. HQ00342110018
Abstract
This paper presents a new astronomy self-efficacy instrument, composed of two factors; one relating to learning astronomy content, which we call astronomy personal self-efficacy, and the other relating to the use of astronomical instrumentation, specifically the use of remote robotic telescopes for data collection. The latter is referred to as the astronomy instrumental self-efficacy factor. The instrument has been tested for reliability and construct validity. Reliability testing showed that factor 1 had a Cronbach's α of 0.901 and factor 2 had a Cronbach's α of 0.937. Construct validity was established by computing one-way analyses of variances, with the p value suitably protected, using independent variables peripherally related to the constructs. These analyses demonstrate that both scales possess high construct validity. The development of this astronomy specific instrument is an important step in evaluating self-efficacy as a precursor to investigating the construct of science identity in the field of astronomy.
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.18.010117
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Freed, R., McKinnon, D., Fitzgerald, M., & Norris, C. M. (2022). Development and validation of an astronomy self-efficacy instrument for understanding and doing. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 18(1), 010117. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.18.010117