Attitude scale for track and field: Validity and reliability study

Aim: The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale measuring the attitudes of middle school students towards track-and-field. In addition, the attitude toward track-and-field and the relationship among different variables were studied. Materials and methods: The population of the study was secondary school students in İzmir and the sample of the study consisted of 1175 volunteer 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students (602 female, 573 male) who were determined through random sampling technique. Data related to the research were gathered by the 'Attitude Towards Track and Field Scale'(ATTFS) and 'Personal Information Form' developed by the researchers and 'Physical Education Class Attitude Scale' which was validated and trusted by Kır (2012). In the analysis of the data, Kaiser Meyer Olkin and Bartlett's Test, Explicit Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, T Test, Mann Whitney U, Cronbach alpha, Correlation Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis methods were applied. Findings: As a result of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the α coefficient of the scale which consist of two factors and 14 items was discovered as ,794. The α coefficient for the tendency to add distance from the sub-dimensions was found to be ,761, and the α coefficient for the willingness to use tools and space was ,722. The compliance indices of the scale as a result of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were found to be RMSEA = 0,053 GFI / AGFI = 0,96 RMR / SMRM = 0,038 NFI / NNFI = 0,96 and PGFI = 0,66. These values are in perfect agreement with the developed model. Results: The developed ATTFS is a valid and reliable measurement tool. There is a moderate positive relationship between attitude towards track-and-field and attitude towards physical education course. Key words: Track-and-Field, Attitude,Secondary School Students, Physical Education