Field Testing the Wellness Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Instrument

Friday, April 1, 2011
Exhibit Hall Poster Area 1 (Convention Center)
John H. Downing, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

Background/Purpose: The Wellness Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Instrument (WKABI) is an assessment tool comprised of 33 knowledge question test items (KQTI) plus, 14 and 17 item attitude (A-Q) and behavior (B-Q) questionnaires. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate WKABI in a university wellness course using similar measurement parameters to those employed in the original construct validation.

Method: WKABI was posted on-line in secure, non-proctored pre-post test formats. Index of discrimination (IOD) evaluated each KQTI's level of difficulty; factor analyses (FA) assessed questionnaire validity. Eigenvalues (E) for FA were set at 1; questionnaire items loading .50 or higher were retained. Cronbach's alpha (CA) measured internal consistency in the test/questionnaires.

Analysis/Results: The IOD for KQTI (n, 765) ranged from .53 to .02. Ten questions indexed .10 or below; average IOD = .29; CA knowledge, .734 (original WKABI, .757). FA A-Q (n, 770) yielded 4 factors (F) similar to the original WKABI: F1, Physical Activity (E, 4.71), F2, Dietary Habits (E, 1.71), F3, Nutrition Information (E, 1.09) and F4, Stress Management (E, 1.02); CA attitude, .802 (original WKABI, .838). FA B-Q (n, 798) yielded 3 factors as opposed to 5 in the original WKABI: F1, Nutritional Practices (E, 6.44), F2, Exercise Habits (E, 1.85) and F3, Managing Stress (E, 1.28); CA behavior, .893 (original WKABI, .765).

Conclusions: WKABI was reliable/valid within this testing context. Suggestions: Insert new yet similar KQTI with increased degree of difficulty into the test in an attempt to set the IOD at approximately .50 for all test questions.