TEST ANXIETY INVENTORY (TAI): VALIDIZATION AND PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF CZECH VERSION

Katerina Kubíková¹*, Katerina Lukavská², Aneta Bohácová³, Denis Mainz⁴ and Sandra Svobodová^5
1Mgr. Ph.D., University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic, kubikovk@kps.zcu.cz
²Mgr. Ph.D., Charles University, Czech Republic, email@katerinalukavska.cz
³Mgr., University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic, bohacova@kps.zcu.cz
⁴PhDr. Ph.D., University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic, dmainz@kvd.zcu.cz
⁵Bc., University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic, sandrasv@students.zcu.cz
*Corresponding author

Abstract

This study details the development and validation of a Czech language version of the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI). The TAI instrument has been created to allow acquisition of empirical evidence on the two above-mentioned components in practical situations. This measurement tool addresses identification of worry and emotionality during tests. Spielberger et al. (1978) created TAI (Test Anxiety Inventory), a self-report based scale used for measuring both test anxiety factors. According to Spielberger (1980), TAI was designed to measure anxiety in high school and university students. It consists of two subgroups: measurement of worry (TAI-W) and measurement of emotional distress (TAI-E). In our research, we assess psychometric properties of the TAI scale and test the scale among student population in the Czech Republic and we also debate options of application of this method on respondents at the lower limit of the recommended age. In this study, the TAI scale was adapted and administered to a sample of 185 students aged 12 to 15 years. The aim of this study was to examine factor structure and explore the psychometric properties for Czech version of Test Anxiety Inventory. Alpha reliability values for different scales of TAI (TAI-Worry, and TAI-Emotionality) ranged was 0.877 (TAI-E) and 0.851 (TAI-W). The correlation between the two subscales measured by the Pearson correction coefficient is positive and very strong (r = 0.769) and statistically significant (p <.001). The two-factor structure consisting of TAI-Worry and TAI-Emotionality components showed acceptable discriminant validity and internal reliability. The item analysis and both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were made showing that Czech TAI Scale has acceptable psychometrical properties and can be used in Czech school children.

Keywords: Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Anxiety, Student, Confirmatory factor analysis, explanatory factor analysis.