Psychometric properties of an instrument to evaluate students’ perception of learning objects in statistics

Abstract

Digital Learning Resources (DLRs) have the function of facilitating learning; however, the evaluation regarding their functionality is limited since there are few tools for this purpose. Of these, the instrument that stands out is “Perception of the use of Digital Learning Resources in Statistics” (IPDLR-S), which allows for evaluating the perception of undergraduate university students about the functionality of the LDRs. With the objective of providing a tool with scientific quality, the IPDLR-S instrument underwent to an analysis of construct validity and reliability. The instrument was applied to 1,148 university students, the construct validity analysis was performed using an exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis, and the reliability was determined by ordinal Cronbach’s alpha. According to the EFA, it was found that all the items are represented in the factorial model; however, differences were found for the theoretical model since a fourth dimension emerges (Cooperative Learning). On the other hand, using the CFA, the resulting factorial model showed a good fit (GFI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.064, CFI = 0.999, and TLI = 0.999). Overall reliability, as well as by factor showed an optimal value (ordinal Cronbach’s alpha >.98). The IPDLR-S instrument has adequate psychometric properties.