Redevelopment of the Need for Cognition Scale in Science Education: Based on Item Response Theory

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to redevelop the Need for Cognition Scale in Science Education (NCSE) and provide basic data for its application. We define NCSE as the intrinsic tendency that allows one to engage in and enjoy cognitive activities; these are scientific inquiries through observation and experimentation. This study is divided into four parts. In Study 1, we conducted a questionnaire survey on 1,875 elementary and junior high school students and clarified the structure of the scale based on item response theory (IRT). Several IRT model fits were compared, and finally, we identified the characteristics of each question item based on the graded response model (GRM). In Study 2, we verified the validity and accuracy of NCSE. In addition, we showed that there was no differential item functioning (DIF) of gender. In Study 3, we examined gender and grade differences. We found that NCSE tended to be higher in males than in females and may decrease as the grade progresses. In Study 4, we divided the questionnaire into two groups based on item parameters estimated in Study 1. These two sets, known as the horizontal test, will contribute to future investigations using the pre-post design approach.