Development of an achievement test for the measurement of basic laboratory science knowledge of preservice science teachers

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable achievement test for the measurement of basic laboratory science knowledge of preservice science teachers and to determine the basic laboratory science knowledge levels of preservice teachers by applying this test. For these purposes sub-problems were created. The research was carried out in two parts. In the first part of the research , knowledge test was developed and in the second part this test was applied to preservice science teachers. In this research, cross-sectional survey design was used. The population of the research was composed of the preservice teachers studying in Science Teaching Undergraduate Program of Inonu University Faculty of Education. The research sample consisted of 115 preservice science teachers, selected with purposeful sampling method, studying in the Science Teaching Undergraduate Program of Inonu University Faculty of Education, Mathematics and Science Education Department , in the 2018–2019 academic year. As data collection instrument "Basic Science Laboratory Achievement Test", developed by researcher, was used in the research. This measuring instrument has been developed in accordance with the test development steps. For the validity and reliability analyzes of the instrument, TAP item and test analysis program was used after the pilot application. After the corrections, a valid and reliable achievement test was obtained. The test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions, 10 of which belong to physics, 10 to chemistry and 10 to biology laboratories. SPSS 21 package program was used in the analysis of the data obtained after the test was applied to the research sample for problem and sub-problems. In the analysis process, the frequency and percentage values of the data were calculated and the basic laboratory science knowledge levels of preservice science teachers in 2nd and 4th grades were determined. Independent sample t test was used to determine whether there is a significant difference among the knowledge levels of these preservice science teachers. According to the obtained results; the average value of the preservice science teachers in the 2nd grade is higher than the average value of the preservice science teachers in the 4th grade. However, this difference is not statistically significant. In addition, the average values of the physics, chemistry and biology sections of the test were found to be quite close to each other for both grades and there is no statistically significant difference between them. Key Words: achievement test, basic laboratory science knowledge, preservice science teacher