Development of Chinese rating scale of pupil's mathematic abilities and study on its reliability and validity

Abstract

Objective To develop an acceptable rating scale of basic mathematical abilities for Chinese primary students and test its reliability and validity.Methods The basic mathematical competencies of the primary students were assessed with Chinese Rating Scale of Basic Mathematical Competencies in the Elementary School Level.7377 and 7316 students were selected randomly in urban and rural schools respectively by the multi-phase-stratified-cluster sampling method according to the fifth national population census in 2000.Results The reliability indexes such as Chronbach's α coefficient(α0.7),split-half reliability coefficient(r=0.83)and the reliability coefficient of total revision(R=0.90),test-retest reliability coefficients of the subtests were above 0.7 except the subtests such as number transcription and diamonds count,and the satisfactory validity indexes were obtained including construct validity,content validity,criteria validity and discriminant validity.Conclusion The rating scale could be used to assess basic mathematical competencies in the elementary school level in China because basic mathematical competencies were assessed from various aspects,and its reliability and validity indexes met the demand of measure,which adapted to Chinese educational state.