Background/Purpose
Fitness testing continues to be a component of most physical education programs. Little is known, however, about student attitude toward fitness testing. The purpose of this investigation was to develop an instrument for measuring students' attitudes toward fitness testing.
Method
Instrument development was based on both attitude and psychometric theory. An elicitation study was completed with high school students (N = 67) and their language was incorporated into the items. An extensive pilot study (N = 427) was conducted to test item and factor structure and revise the instrument. The validity study (N = 1199) was completed in 13 high schools. A content validation study included university faculty members (N = 36).
Analysis/Results
Analysis was an iterative process that involved multiple rounds of EFA and PCA for item diagnosis and the examination of G-C alpha. CFA and SEM were then used to examine factor structure and construct validity. The final instrument had 18 items with three affective factors (enjoyment, feelings, teacher) and a cognitive factor. Factor loadings ranged from .507 to .862. Fit statistics indicated a good fit (GFI, AGFI, RMSEA, CFI, NFI = 892, .862, .080, .920, .910, respectively). G-C alpha coefficients were good to excellent (total model α = .902). The content validity study strongly indicated the items were appropriate for the model.
Conclusions
Students have a more nuanced view of affect than knowledge in a two-component view of attitude toward fitness testing. This instrument provides reliable and valid scores to measure high school students' attitudes toward fitness testing.