Development of academic writing block scale (Awbs): A validity and reliability study

Abstract

Academic writing block is a psychology-based writing problem that has a productivity-lowering effect on the publishing process. This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable assessment tool to measure academic writing block. To this end, during the pre-trial and trial applications, academicians were interviewed face to face. The main application was realized through the online form. A pre-reliability test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and total item correlation were conducted in the trial application. In the main application, reliability test, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and total item correlation were performed for construct validity. After the trial application, it was determined that the scale has a four-factor structure consisting of 23 items. Cronbach Alpha values were calculated to determine the preliminary reliability of the scale. CFA was conducted to test the construct validity of the Academic Writing Block Scale (AWBS). It was observed that the structure with four implicit variables determined in CFA was confirmed by the remaining 18 items in the scale. Besides, the total item correlation was used to test construct validity. Cronbach Alpha values were calculated to determine the reliability of AWBS. According to these values, it can be said that AWBS is a valid and reliable assessment instrument that can be used to measure academic writing block.