The Reliability and Validity of a MLCT-Scale for the Assessment of Kindergarten Children

Abstract

This study was derived from the review of literature on motivation to learn, and creative thinking, in kindergarten children. While both these themes are explored reasonably in depth, there is very little research on motivation to learn creative thinking, which is a pillar of educational development. The researcher found the reason was that there was no Scale to measure this aspect, and so he constructed a new Motivation to Learn Creative Thinking Scale (MLCT-Scale) among kindergarten children. He also investigated the psychometric characteristics of the Scale. This Scale construction and investigation findings are reported here. The methodology used in this study was Descriptive survey. In all, 21 items formed the MLCT- scale within 5 dimensions. It uses a 5-points Likert Scale. Before conducting the Study, the two validities of the scale, concept and concurrent validities, were assessed. The study sample size was a random selection of 360 Kindergarten children, restricted to Amman city in Jordan. As this was a new Scale, the researcher took utmost care, through a series of statistical tests, to ensure Reliability, Concept validity and Construct validity of the Scale. He also ensured that the factor loading of each of the 21 items onto 5 factors was very strong. The study findings showed high coefficient correlations for Reliability, Concept and Concurrent Validity. There was a strong loading of the 5 scale dimensions as shown by Exploratory Factor Analysis. It is strongly recommended by the researcher that motivation to learn creative learning in kindergarten can be assessed by implementing the Motivating Children to Learn Creative Thinking Scale

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