The Test Anxiety Scale for Children as a Generalized Measure of Academic Anxiety

Abstract

The Test Anxiety Scale for Children (TASC) was developed to serve as a paper and pencil self-report assessment of test anxiety. Numerous studies have factor analyzed the TASC and the results have suggested that the TASC has a four-factor structure. The present study conducted a factor analysis and a Rasch model item response theory (IRT) analysis. The factor solution is consistent with previously reported results. The IRT analysis provides evidence that the TASC may be understood as a continuum defining an academic anxiety construct comprised of clusters of commonly related items.