Development and validation of math anxiety scale for secondary school students (MAS-SS): application of Rasch analysis

Abstract

The accurateness of an instrument in measuring intended variables is significant to ensure the findings is really meaningful. Even the existing instrument should be review if it aims to measure the variables in different context and domain specific. This paper will discuss the development and validation process for the instrument measuring math anxiety for second former. There were four constructs in indicating one's anxious feeling based on Parkinson's Four Factor Emotion Theory (1995) which were appraisal towards stimulus, arousal, face expression and action tendencies. There were also correspond sub constructs for each constructs match according to previous literature. Experts review and psychometric analysis has been carried out to assess the quality of the instrument. The initial version of the instrument consist of 32 items which comprises of 14 sub constructs while the last version consist of 30 items with 12 sub constructs. The instrument testing was done towards 123 second former students and the psychometric analysis was applying Rasch Measurement Model. The psychometric elements tested includes item reliability, item separation, item and person fit, unidimentionality and rating scale validity. Results indicates that all the psychometric tests have met the minimum condition and thus the reliability and validity of the instrument proved.