Older Adults' Performance on the Sdlrs: An Item Analysis

This study was designed to conduct an item analysis of Guglielmino's Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) completed by older adults. Specifically, the investigation was designed to determine what, if any, differences might be identified when two methods of completing the SDLRS were used. Accordingly one group (n = 19) of subjects had the scale read to them and they orally indicated their response choice. The other group (n —30) independently completed the scale. Eleven hypotheses were examined. Four of the null forms of the hypotheses were rejected. These findings suggest that (a) the total SDLRS scores for the two groups were not significantly different and that (b) the two groups are not significantly different in terms of education levels or age. Yet interesting variations among the item responses, by group, are identified. The findings reveal differences for responses associated with negatively scored items and a few positively scored ones. According to Cronbach's alpha (α), reliability generated for both groups is high, .91 for group 1 (the group receiving help) and .92 for the independent group. Reliability of the reverse scored items is more questionable; Cronbach's a generated for group 1 was 0.63 for group 2 was 0.77. Differences between the two groups were also noted for the association between total scores and subtotal scores for reverse scored items. The impact of the limited internal consistency is not clear. However, reliability of the scores reported for the group receiving help is questionable. Conclusions and recommendations for additional research are reported.