ERIC Number: EJ791804
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Apr
Pages: 5
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0098-6283
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Teaching Traits and Constructs through Scale Construction: A Need and a Strategy
Holmes, Jeffrey D.
Teaching of Psychology, v35 n2 p86-90 Apr 2008
Most students have some experience with purported measures of psychological constructs before entering college. Critical analysis of such measures requires familiarity with test development strategies. The activities outlined in this article allowed students to complete the steps involved in scale construction and empirical analysis in a relatively brief period of time. Steps included trait conceptualization, searching for literature, generating hypotheses, operationalizing constructs, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting the quality of instruments. The activity took place in an introductory laboratory course but contains sufficient flexibility to make it useful in a variety of courses. Student evaluations of the activities were positive, and the article includes evidence of student learning. (Contains 2 tables and 3 notes.)
Descriptors: Student Evaluation, Familiarity, Measures (Individuals), Psychological Characteristics, Psychometrics, Minimum Competency Testing, Student Experience, Experimental Psychology, College Freshmen, Student Surveys, Student Attitudes, Rating Scales
Lawrence Erlbaum. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A