Attitude of Senior High School Teachers Toward Test Construction: Developing and Validating a Standardised Instrument

Abstract

Test construction is an essential part of teachers’ responsibility. Teachers are therefore supposed to craft well-functioning items in ensuring effective teaching and learning. This study seeks to develop and validate a standardised instrument in measuring teachers’ attitude towards test construction. The study further explores the attitude of teachers towards test construction. The instrument was developed based on literature as well as personal experiences of the researchers. The developed instrument was administered to 432 Senior High School teachers in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Through an exploratory factor analysis, four dimensions were obtained which include: planning, item construction, item review and assembling. A confirmatory factor analysis was then conducted to examine the factor loadings of the items. After critical evaluation, the items on the instrument remained 32 which was on a four point Likert scale. Further analysis revealed an overall negative attitude of SHS teachers towards test construction. It is recommended that Ghana Education Service (GES) together with headteachers of various SHS should ensure effective supervision of teachers in constructing test for students.

Keywords: Item construction, Item review, Testing, Assembling, Test construction