Human Rights Attitude Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop a valid and reliable attitude scale having quality psychometric features that can measure secondary school students’ attitudes towards human rights. The study group of the research is comprised by 710 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who study at 4 secondary schools in the centre of Sivas. The study group was chosen from secondary school students through random cluster sampling. In line with the related literature, a trial item pool was formed and expert opinion was sought for by asking help from expert lecturers in the area. Following the pilot study, the draft scale was applied on the study group. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to determine the factor construct and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to determine construct validity and other validity tests were conducted as well. The data of the study was analyzed through PASW 18.0 ve Lisrel 8.51 multi-task programs in a computer setting. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses were made to determine the construct validity of the scale. The correlations of item-test scores and internal coherence coefficient Cronbach Alpha were calculated. T-test was resorted to to find out the distinguishing power of items. Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of the sub-items of the scale and the scale as a whole (0.821) and correlation coefficients among subtitles indicate that the scale is reliable.This four factor scale consisting of 21 items is a usable and reliable model because all conformity values are within the range of acceptable limits.