Scale development of the dimensions of musical communication: Children between the ages of 3 to 6

This study was designed to develop the scale of ?The dimensions ofmusical communication of children, which are between the ages 3 and 6?. Forthis purpose, the preliminary scale consisting of 51 items was formulatedthrough a review of the literature and interviews with parents and specialists.The preliminary scale was reorganized with two pilot studies and the ?Scale of the Dimensions of Musical Communication (SDMC)?, which includes 42 items(40 expressions and 2 expressions of control) was formed.The final scale was formed after revisions and the scale wasadministered to 1375 parents. The data obtained from 1110 of the scales,which were completed by the parents in full accordance with the scaleinstructions were used for analysis. According to results of the item- scalecorrelations prior to the factor analysis, 10 items were removed from thescale.The results of the explanatory factor analysis provided an eightdimensionedstructure. These eight dimensions are described as ?Setting?,?Support?, ?Sleeping Habits?, ?Musical Interaction?, ?Selectivity?, ?Gender?,?Reward?, ?Economic Situation-Limitations?. All the dimensions haveacceptable alpha (between ,837 and ,541) and the alpha reliability coefficientsof the whole scale is ,901. These eight dimensions explain 61.977% of thetotal variance.The final version of the SDMC consists of 32 items, two of which areexpressions of control, and 8 dimensions.Keywords: Musical Communication; Music; Music Education;Children, Parents and Music; Scale Development, Factor Analysis.