ERIC Number: EJ1471974
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0899 3408
EISSN: EISSN-1744-5175
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Investigating the Psychometric Features of a Locally Designed Computational Thinking Assessment for Elementary Students
Computer Science Education, v35 n2 p414-433 2025
Background and Context: Educators and researchers are interested in building the computational thinking (CT) skills of K-12 students. However, the availability of language-agnostic assessments for lower elementary graders remains limited. Objective: We present preliminary insights into the reliability and validity of the Computational Thinking Assessment for Elementary Students (CTAES), a new assessment to measure 3rd-5th grade students' CT abilities. Method: The CTAES was administered to 222 3rd-5th grade students. We conducted Rasch analyses, focusing on dimensionality, separation characteristics, and differential item functioning. Findings: The CTAES appears to be unidimensional, primarily assessing students' CT skills. Students with lower CT proficiency demonstrate lower likelihood of correctly responding to assessment items compared to peers with higher CT proficiency levels. Preliminary evidence suggests that the assessment does not exhibit bias based on gender or racial/ethnic background. Implications: Initial findings suggest that the CTAES holds promise as a reliable and valid assessment tool, although there remain opportunities for further refinement.
Descriptors: Thinking Skills, Gender Differences, Computer Science Education, Elementary School Students, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Item Analysis, Measures (Individuals), Psychometrics, Race, Ethnicity, Faculty Development, Elementary School Teachers, Reliability, Validity, Student Characteristics
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3; Primary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York (New York)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; 2National Center for Youth Law, Oakland, CA, USA