Validity of Single-Item Self-Report Measure of Examination Stress
Authors: Paulina Łukowicz, Anna Choynowska, Anna Maria Świątkowska, Piotr Bereznowski, Wiktor Kornel Wróbel, Paweł Andrzej Atroszko
Abstract: Interest in the examination stress among children and university students, often referred to as test anxiety, has been constantly growing since 1950s. This phenomenon has quickly become subject of many theories, which spawned various tools to measure it. Moreover, research on examination stress is often conducted on large samples with multiple measurements in different time periods and multiplicity of other traits measured at the same time. Hence, valid, reliable, and short tools, which would significantly reduce time needed to fulfil questionnaire and fatigue of participants, are especially desired. The aim of the present study was to provide support for the validity of the single-item, self-report measure of examination stress. The study was conducted among 235 students from University of Gdańsk, 197 females (83.8%), 35 men (14.9%) and three persons who did not state gender (1.3%). Participants were from different faculties, courses of study, years and modes of study. Mean age was 20.46 years (SD = 1.37). The obtained data provided initial support for the construct validity of the measure. Existing studies indicate that the application of single-item scale can be a promising alternative for a multi-item and multidimensional scales in situations, where quick and easy measurement of examination stress is needed.
Publ: Research and Development of Young Scientists in Poland. Humanities and social sciences