The Adaptation of the Sources of Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale for Turkish Context

Abstract

The aim of the study is to adapt the Sources of Middle School Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale developed by, Usher and Pajares (2009) for Turkish context. After the Turkish version was formed through required procedures, it was administered with 750 middle school students of 6th, 7th and 8th grades. The ages of the students ranged between 12 and 15. The 48% of the students were female (n=408) and 52%of the students were male (n=342). 32% of the students were attending (n=242) sixth grade, 34’% of them (n=257) seventh and 34% (n=251) eighth grade. Construct validity of the scale was investigated via Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Criterion validity of the scale was also done to see if it serves its purpose well. Reliability of the scale was tested by computing Cronbach Alpha, corrected total item correlation coefficient, and t-tests comparing the total item scores of top 27% and bottom 27% participants. The results indicated that the Turkish version of the SMSMSEC consists of four factors. Cronbach alpha values of the factors ranged between 0.80 and 0.94. Corrected total item correlation coefficients ranged between 0.77 and -0.25. Criterion validity results indicated the scale serves its purpose well. The t-test results indicated that there were significant difference between the total scores of top 27% and bottom 27% of the participants for all items.