Validation of the attitude toward women in science scale for early adolescents

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to measure attitude of adolescents toward women in science careers. To do so, researchers in the Career Oriented Modules to Explore Topics in Science Project validated a 27‐item instrument, the Women in Science Scale (WiSS). The scale had high reliability whether measured by estimates of internal consistency or test‐retest reliability. The validity was established using the known groups and correlates procedures. The test clearly distinguished between known groups and resulted in the predicted pattern of correlations with measures of other constructs. The WiSS could prove to be a valuable instrument for basic research or curriculum evaluation where adolescent attitude toward women in science careers is a variable of interest.