Abstract

The main goal of this study is to develop a valid and reliable science process skills test for 6th graders (SPST-6). Within the scope of these aims, an item pool including 52 multiple choice test items was prepared. To ensure the content validity, reviews from experts were taken, and according to their feedbacks, questions were revised and 10 questions were eliminated. Subsequent to the pilot study conducted with 57 elementary 6th graders, item analyses and internal consistency reliability analyses were done. Consistent with the results of item analyses, 8 items were extracted from the test. The internal consistency analyses were done. During the main application, the test was applied to 175 6th grade students. A criteria test was also applied to 40 of these 175 students, and the correlation coefficient between the SPST-6 scores and criteria scores of this group was calculated 0.727. The final internal consistency analyses (split half) results showed that the correlation coefficient between forms is 0.729 and the general alpha coefficients for both halves are 0.74. Moreover, it was found that there is a significant difference in SPST-6 scores according to school science and technology course grades, gender, and parents’ educational status (p < .05).