Analysis of the School Anxiety Inventory in Brazil Using the Rasch Rating Scale Model

Abstract

This study assessed the quality of the items of the School Anxiety Inventory using the Rating-Scale Rasch model. The Inventory was administered to 253 grade school pupils, ranging in age from 9 to 12 yr. ( M = 10.2 yr., SD = 0.98); most were girls (52.8%). The results showed that the items and participants adequately fit the Rasch model. The average anxiety of these children was 0.32 logits ( SD = 1.60). The inventory items revealed good reliability (Item Reliability Index = 0.98; Cronbach's α = .74), and the fit indicators for the response categories were adequate for 50% of the items, while the other items revealed dichotomous responses. No item functioned differentially for boys and girls. The psychometric properties of the inventory were good enough to encourage plans for further development.