Attitude scale for initial reading and writing instruction: A scale development study

The main aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale to measure primary school teachers' attitudes towards the initial reading and writing instruction process. This study is a scale development study, and the survey model, which is a quantitative research method, was used in the data collection process. The population of the study consists of 1889 class teachers working in official primary schools affiliated with the Directorate of National Education in the Batman province during the 2021-2022 academic year. The study was conducted with 673 class teachers working in Batman province. Appropriate sampling method was considered in the determination of the sample. In the data analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) process was conducted using SPSS 24, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) process was conducted using AMOS 24. After the EFA process conducted with 319 participants, 4 items with low factor loadings or cross-loadings were removed from the 25-item scale, and a final scale with 21 items and 4 dimensions was obtained. The final scale consists of 9 negative and 12 positive items. It includes 9 items in the struggle sub-dimension, 5 items in the enjoyment sub-dimension, 4 items in the openness to development sub-dimension, and 3 items in the willingness sub-dimension. In the Confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted with a different group of 354 participants, the four-factor structure of the scale was found to be consistent with the EFA results in terms of fit indices. The Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for the entire scale was found to be .898. The Spearman-Brown split-half reliability values, both equal and unequal, were determined as .846. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficients for the sub-dimensions were found as .876 for the struggle sub-dimension, .831 for the enjoyment sub-dimension, .806 for the openness to development sub-dimension, and .704 for the willingness sub-dimension. Therefore, the developed scale is reliable. The findings regarding the validity and reliability of the scale indicate that it can be used to determine primary school teachers' attitudes towards the initial reading and writing instruction process. The current study was conducted only in Batman province due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar studies can be conducted with wider participation of class teachers from different provinces. It would be beneficial to repeat the validity and reliability calculations in future studies that utilize the scale and compare the results with the current values.