Developing a "Self-directed Learning Preparation Skills Scale for Primary School Students": Validity and Reliability Analyses

The purpose of this study is to develop 'Self-Directed Learning Preparation Skills Scale' for primary school students. Data were gathered according to the principles of descriptive research method. In order to develop this scale, draft items were developed through review of literature, interviews done with teachers, parents and students and presented to the experts for evaluation. After the alterations made according to experts' suggestions, a pilot study with 16 primary students was carried out to revise the items. After the revision, the scale was administered to a sample of 450 3rd and 4th year primary school students. In order to determine the validity of the scale, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The results of the analyses revealed that this 38-item 'Self-Directed Learning Preparatory' Scale contained four factors, and these factors explained % 45.65 of total variance. The four factors were named respectively as 'Continuity in Learning Skills' (α=.87), 'Planning in Learning Skills' (α=.85), 'Awareness Towards Learning Skills' (α=.80) and 'Management of Learning Environment and Learning Resources Skills' (α=.80). The overall internal reliability coefficient (Cronbach Alpha) of the scale was found as .94.