Children’s learning behaviors: psychometric properties of the preschool learning behavior scale in turkey

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to adapt the Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale (PLBS), which was developed by McDermott, Leigh, and Perry (2002) to Turkish and examine reliability and validation. The PLBS is a 29-item scale that is designed to assess the learning- related behaviors of preschool children on three subscales: Competence/Motivation, Attention/Persistence, and Attitude Toward Learning. A total of 140 preschool children (59 girls, 81 boys) and their teachers were recruited in Istanbul for the current study. Children’s age ranged from 39 to 77 months (M= 62.56, SD= 8.52). Firstly, the PLBS was adapted to Turkish language and culture. The validity of the scale was measured by Confirmatory Factor Analysis and the difference between the Upper %27 and Lower %27 groups was tested. The internal reliability of the scale was calculated by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald’s Omega method. The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed that the scale has a three-factor structure as in the original version. The CFA model for the PLBS confirmed that there is a 3-factor model (χ 2 = 699.443 (p < .001), CFI= 0.95, RMSEA= .07 (.07 to .09 at 90% CI), and WRMR = 1.20. Cronbach alpha and McDonald’s Omega for internal consistency showed the measure was reliable. The analyses showed that the PLBS is a valid, reliable tool for Turkish children.The purpose of the current study was to adapt Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale (PLBS), which was developed by McDermott, Leigh, and Perry (2002) to Turkish and examine reliability and validation. The PLBS is a 29-item scale that is designed to assess the learning-related behaviors of preschool children on three subscales: Competence/Motivation, Attention/Persistence, and Attitude Toward Learning. A total of 140 preschool children (59 girls, 81 boys) and their teachers were recruited in Istanbul for the current study. Children’s age ranged from 39 to 77 months (M= 62.56, SD= 8.52). Firstly, the PLBS was adapted to Turkish language and culture. The validity of the scale was measured by Confirmatory Factor Analysis and the difference between the Upper %27 and Lower %27 groups was tested. The internal reliability of the scale was calculated by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald’s Omega method. The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed that the scale has a three-factor structure as in the original version. The CFA model for the PLBS confirmed that there is a 3-factor model (χ2= 699.443 (p < .001), CFI= 0.95, RMSEA= .07 (.07 to .09 at 90% CI), and WRMR = 1.20. Cronbach alpha and McDonald’s Omega for internal consistency showed the measure was reliable. The analyses showed that the PLBS is a valid, reliable tool for Turkish children.