Psychometric Properties of the Statistical Anxiety Scale Among Students In Singapore and Australia

DOI: 10.5176/2251-1865_CBP14.05

Authors: Peter K. H. Chew, Denise B. Dillon

Abstract:

The purpose of the current study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) among a sample of Singapore and Australia psychology undergraduates. Participants were 163 undergraduates (78.5{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465} female) in the James Cook University Psychology programs at the Australia (33.1 {6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}) and Singapore (66.9{6e6090cdd558c53a8bc18225ef4499fead9160abd3419ad4f137e902b483c465}) campuses. Acceptable internal consistency reliabilities, ranging from 0.89 to 0.95 for the factors and for the total scale of the SAS, were found in the current study. Exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor structure, with the same eight items on each factor as identified by the authors of the scale. The results provided support for the use of the SAS among Singapore and Australia psychology undergraduates. Limitations include the exploratory nature of the study and non-generalizabilty of the results.

Keywords: statistics anxiety; EFA; statistical anxiety scale