Reliability and Validity of Measures of Attitudes toward Writing and toward Writing with the Computer

Written Communication Jul 1990

Reliability and Validity of Measures of Attitudes toward Writing and toward Writing with the Computer

JAMES P. SHAVER

Abstract

The reliability of secondary students' scores from a previously published measure of attitudes toward writing, Daly and Miller's Writing Apprehension Scale (WAS), and a newly developed Attitudes Toward Writing with the Computer Scale (ATWCS) were appraised and validity evidence gathered in two separate studies. Data came from 354 7th through 10th graders in seven school districts and from 658 10th graders in one school district. Alpha coefficients were .94 and above for the WAS and .86 and above for the ATWCS. Construct validity indicators were (a) low correlations between WAS and ATWCS scores and substantiating interview data; (b) higher correlations between WAS and holistic writing scores than between ATWCS and holistic writing scores; (c) greater sensitivity of the ATWCS to the effects of participation in a computer writing lab; and (d) independent factorial structures for the two scales. A three-factor solution was obtained for the WAS, contrary to Daly and Miller's unifactor solution.

Journal: Written Communication
Published: 1990-07-01
DOI: 10.1177/0741088390007003004
Open Access: Closed
Topics: writing centers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

BLINE et al. (2001)

A Research Note on the Dimensionality of Daly and Miller's Writing Apprehension Scale

Written Communication
REINSCH et al. (1995)

Preferences for Sending Word-Processed versus Handwritten Messages

Journal of Business and Technical Communication

Cites in this index (4)

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Writing Apprehension, Self-Esteem, and Personality

Research in the Teaching of English
(1983)

Textual Analysis with Computers: Tests of Bell Laboratories’ Computer Software

Research in the Teaching of English
Daly et al. (1975)

The Empirical Development of an Instrument to Measure Writing Apprehension

Research in the Teaching of English
Daly et al. (1975)

Further Studies on Writing Apprehension: SAT Scores, Success Expectations, Will…

Research in the Teaching of English

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