Developing creative scientific ability test for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and analysis of its pre-psychometric properties

One of the leading factors affecting creativity studies negatively is the limitations of creativity assessments. First of all, there are few instruments compatible with modern theories creativity. Secondly psychometric properties of these instruments are not sufficient. In the context of scientific creativity, there are fewer scientific creativity tests for primary school students. It is seen that the psychometric features of existing instruments are inadequate. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a scientific creativity test for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students on the basis of Scientific Discovery as Dual Search Model (SDDS). Creative Scientific Ability Test for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade (C-SAT 3-5), which was developed according to SDSS, consists of hypothesis development and experiment designing components. There are four open-ended items in science areas Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. In developmental process of C-SAT 3-5, many items that are suitable to theoretical background were produced in 10 sessions with 10 expert teachers. An implementation form was created by using these items. Items were chosen according to expert opinion, try-out and pilot studies. The implementation form was given to 647 students (166 5th grade students, 251 3rd grade students, 220 4th grade students) and according to the results the final version of the test was created. Two-component structure of C-SAT 3-5 was proved. It was also found that C-SAT 3-5 has adequate concurrent and discriminant validity. From the reliability analyses the internal consistency and the interrater reliability of the test was found to be high. According to the results of the study C-SAT 3-5 is a valid and reliable scientific creativity test for primary school students. It can be used in evaluating the effects of educational interventions in science like gifted programs, identification and screening processes in gifted education, and the researches on scientific creativity, scientific reasoning, science process skills and scientific thinking. Keywords: Scientific creativity, Creativity, Science process skills, Hypothesis formation, Experiment design.