The evaluation of GAENE 2.1 in Greek students

Abstract

The acceptance of evolution by Greek students aged 17 has never been actually measured neither via a poll survey nor with the application of any of the existing psychometric tools that have been developed for this purpose. In this research, GAENE 2.1 was chosen because it is a one-dimensional tool that can only measure the acceptance of evolution and does not contain items related to the understanding of evolution and the respondent’s religious beliefs. The assessment of the appropriateness of the tool for our sample was tested with the criteria of Rasch model. Despite the fact that some of GAENE 2.1 items may not show the expected statistical fit and probably overestimates the levels of acceptance of evolution, the tool is appropriated to measure with efficiently and effectively way the acceptance of evolution in the specific sample.