Attitudes of Gifted Students Toward Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM): A Study of Validity and Reliability

Introduction: This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine the attitudes of students who have been identified as gifted and enrolled in Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM). This study was conducted in response to the need for a scale that is compatible with current BİLSEM practices and student profiles. Method: The research was conducted with 523 students studying in three different BİLSEMs in Ankara. Within the scope of this study, two separate data groups were formed: exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 344) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 179). The scale items were prepared based on student interviews and expert evaluations and structured using a 5-point Likert format. Findings: The EFA revealed a four-factor structure that explained 60.51% of the total variance. The factors were identified as supporting development and creativity at BİLSEM, emotional attitude toward BİLSEM, participation and motivation in BİLSEM projects, and BİLSEM and knowledge. The CFA findings demonstrated that the multidimensional structure of the scale demonstrated a good fit with the data. Cronbach’s alpha values ranged between .75 and .88. Discussion: The results indicate that the developed scale demonstrates adequate construct validity and internal consistency. The scale provides a suitable tool for evaluating the attitudes of students attending BİLSEM toward the institution. However, future studies should re-examine the psychometric properties of the scale using different samples to further strengthen its validity and reliability.