Abstract

The study explored the factor structure of the Epistemic Beliefs Inventory (EBI). The sample consisted of 200 pre-service science teachers drawn from four colleges of education in Ghana. The EPI, originally developed by Schraw, Dunkle, and Bendixen (1995), was the instrument employed in this study. The EBI consists of 32 items on a 5-point Likert scale and was developed to assess five fundamental epistemological belief constructs: certain knowledge, innate ability, quick learning, simple knowledge, and omniscient authority. The basic structure of the EBI was investigated using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The factorability of the sample and its appropriateness for factor analysis were tested using Bartlett's test of sphericity. The results showed support for the five-factor model of the EBI. Initial results revealed eight factors, and parallel analysis revealed five factors. However, based on the indices, the five-factor model with 24 items did not have a strong model fit. The study confirms the volatility of the EBI in its factorial structure and other psychometric indices.

Keywords

References

• Alavi, M., Visentin, D. C., Thapa, D. K., Hunt, G. E., Watson, R., & Cleary, M. (2020). Chi-square for model fit in confirmatory factor analysis. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14399
• Alnaami, N., Haqwi, A. Al, & Masuadi, E. (2022). Clinical Learning Evaluation Questionnaire: A confirmatory factor analysis. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 13, 953–961. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S243614
• Bartholomew, D. J., Knotts, M., & Moustaki, I. (2011). Latent variable models and factor analysis: A unified approach. John Wiley & Sons.
• Bendixen, L. D., Schraw, G., & Dunkle, M. E. (1998). Epistemic beliefs and moral reasoning. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 132(2), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223989809599158
• Cam, A., Topcu, M. S., Sulun, Y., Guven, G., & Arabacioglu, S. (2012). Translation and validation of the Epistemic Belief Inventory with Turkish pre-service teachers. Educational Research and Evaluation, 18(5), 441–458. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2012.689726
• Cattell, R. B. (1978). The scientific use of factor analysis in behavioral and life sciences. Plenum Press.
• Cazan, A.-M. (2013). Validity of the Discipline Focused Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire (DFEBQ) on a Romanian Sample. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 78, 713–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.04.381
• Check, J., & Schutt, R. K. (2011). Research methods in education. Sage.
• Child, D. (2006). The essentials of factor analysis. Continuum International Publishing.
• Clarebout, G., Elen, J., Luyten, L., & Bamps, H. (2001). Assessing Epistemological Beliefs: Schommer’s Questionnaire Revisited. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 21(1), 53–77. https://doi.org/10.1076/edre.7.1.53.6927
• Costello, A. B. & Osborne (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 10(7), 1-9.
• DeBacker, T. K., Crowson, H. M., Beesley, A. D., Thoma, S. J., & Hestevold, N. L. (2008). The challenge of measuring epistemic beliefs: an analysis of three self-report instruments. The Journal of Experimental Education, 76(3), 281–312. https://doi.org/10.3200/JEXE.76.3.281-314
• El-den, S., Schneider, C., Mirzaei, A., & Carter, S. (2020). How to measure a latent construct: Psychometric principles for the development and validation of measurement instruments. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 28, 326–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12600
• Gallagher, S. A. (2019). Epistemological Differences Between Gifted and Typically Developing Middle School Students. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 42(2), 164–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162353219836924
• Gorsuch, R. L. (2003). Factor analysis. In J. A. Schinka & W. F. Velicer (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Research methods in psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 143–164). Wiley.
• Hair, J., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1995). Multivariate data analysis. Prentice-Hall.
• Hofer, B. K. (2001). Personal epistemology research: Implications for learning and teaching. Educational Psychology Review, 13, 353-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1011965830686
• Hofer, B. K., & Pintrich, P. R. (1997). The development of epistemological theories: Beliefs about knowledge and knowing and their relation to learning. Review of Educational Research, 67(1), 88–140. https://doi.org/10.2307/1170620
• Hooper, D., Coughlan, J., Mullen, M. (2008). Structural equation modelling: guidelines for determining model fit. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 6(1), 53-60.
• Horn, J. L. (1965). A rationale and a test for the number of factors in factor analysis. Psychometrika, 30(2), 179–185.
• Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cut-off criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
• Islam, N. (2019). The big five model of personality in bangladesh: examining the ten-item personality inventory. Psihologija, 52(4), 395–412. https://doi.org/10.2298/PSI181221013I
• Izquierdo, I., Olea, J., & Abad, F. J. (2014). Exploratory factor analysis in validation studies: Uses and recommendations. Psicothema, 26(3), 395–400. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2013.349
• Kaiser, H. F. (1974). An index of factorial simplicity. Psychometrika, 39(1), 31–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291575
• Leal-Soto, F., & Ferrer-Urbina, R. (2017). Three-factor structure for Epistemic Belief Inventory: A cross-validation study. PLOS ONE, 12(3), Article e0173295. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173295
• Moore, W. S. (2002). Understanding learning in a postmodern world: Reconsidering the Perry scheme of intellectual and ethical development. In B. Hofer & P. Pintrich (Eds.), Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about knowledge and knowing (pp. 17–36). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Muis, K. R. (2004). Personal epistemology and mathematics: a critical review and synthesis of research. Review of Educational Research, 74(3), 317–377. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543074003317
• Nussbaum, E. M., & Bendixen, L. D. (2003). Approaching and avoiding arguments: The role of epistemological beliefs, need for cognition, and extraverted personality traits. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 28(4), 573-595. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0361-476X(02)00062-0
• Ordonez, X. G., Ponsoda, V., Abad, F. J., & Romero, S. J. (2009). Measurement of epistemological beliefs psychometric properties of the EQEBI test scores. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 69(2), 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164408323226
• Perry, W. G. (1968). Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years: A scheme. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
• Pintrich, P. R. (2002). Future challenges and directions for theory and research on personal epistemology. In B. K. Hofer & P. R. Pintrich (Eds.), Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about knowledge and knowing (pp. 389–414). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Schmitt, T. A. (2011). Current Methodological Considerations in Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 29(4), 304 –321. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282911406653
• Schmitt, N., & Sass, D. A. (2011). Assessing the fit of structural equation models: Evaluations of comparative fit indices. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 71(3), 394–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164410379322
• Schmitt, T. A., Sass, D. A., Chappelle, W., & Thompson, W. (2018). Selecting the “best” factor structure and moving measurement validation forward: an illustration. Journal of Personality Assessment, 100(4), 345-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2018.1449116
• Schommer, M. (1990). The effects of beliefs about the nature of knowledge on comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(3), 498–504. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.82.3.498
• Schommer-Aikins, M., Mau, W. C., Hutter, R., & Brookhart, S. (2000). Understanding middle students’ beliefs about knowledge and learning using a multidimensional paradigm. Journal of Educational Research, 94(2), 120–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220670009598750
• Schraw, G., Bendixen, L. D., & Dunkle, M. E. (2002). Development and validation of the Epistemic Belief Inventory (EBI). In B. K. Hofer & P. R. Pintrich (Eds.), Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about knowledge and knowing (pp. 261–275). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
• Schraw, G., Dunkle, M. E., & Bendixen, L. D. (1995). Cognitive processes in well-defined and ill-defined problem solving. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 9(6), 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.2350090605
• Singleton, R. A., & Straits, B. C. (2009). Approaches to social research. Oxford University Press.
• Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics. Allyn and Bacon.
• Taherdoost, H., Sahibuddin, S., & Jalaliyoon, N. (2014). Exploratory factor analysis: Concepts and theory. In J. Balicki (Ed.), Advances in applied and pure mathematics (pp. 375–382). Mathematics and Computers in Science and Engineering Series.
• Teo, T. (2013). Examining the psychometric properties of the Epistemic Belief Inventory (EBI). Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 31(1), 72–79. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282912449436
• Teo, T., & Chai, C. S. (2011). Confirmatory factor analysis of the Epistemic Belief Inventory (EBI): A cross-cultural study. The International Journal of Educational and Psychological Assessment, 9(1), 1-13.
• Wang, X., Zhang, Z., Zhang, X., & Hou, D. (2013). Validation of the Chinese version of the epistemic beliefs inventory using confirmatory factor analysis. International Education Studies, 6(8), 98. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v6n8p98
• Welch, A. G., & Roy, C. M. (2012). A preliminary report of the psychometric properties of the epistemic beliefs inventory. The European Journal of Social & Behavioural Sciences, 2(2), 278–303. https://doi.org/10.15405/futureacademy/ejsbs(2301-2218).2012.2.12
• Wheeler, D. L. W. (2007). The development and construct validation of the epistemological beliefs survey for mathematics [Doctoral dissertation]. Oklahoma State University, USA.
• Yong, A. G., & Pearce, S. (2013). A Beginner’s guide to factor analysis: focusing on exploratory factor analysis. Tutorials in Quantitative Methods for Psychology, 9(2), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.20982/tqmp.09.2.p079

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.