Walker Student's Attitude Survey: An assessment of validity and reliability

Scope and method of study. This research assessed the validity and reliability of the Walker Student's Attitude Survey (WSAS). Test-retest after a two week interval was the method of assessing reliability. Construct validity was assessed by correlating the WSAS scores to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC). Subjects were 171 seven to ten year old children. This study also investigated the differences in fear reporting between a psychiatric clinic population and a school (normal) population; the influence of group administration compared to individual administration on fear reporting; and sex differences in fear reporting.;Findings and conclusions. The average age of females was shown to be significantly lower than the average age of males in this study. Chi square calculations demonstrated significantly different age distributions in the variables of population, administration, and sex. Despite the significant Chi square calculations involving the age distributions, a MANOVA for age failed to yield significant differences using the WSAS scores as dependent variables. Test-retest correlation were positive and significant demonstrating the WSAS to be stable over time. The WSAS correlations with the STAIC were also positive and significant on the total score and all three factors with the Trait scale. Factor II (Social Rejection) consistently correlated on the State scale except for females and in the individual administration condition. A population by administration interaction was found significant with school subjects in the individual administration condition scoring higher WSAS total and all three factor scores than school subjects in the group administration condition.