Abstract:

The aim of this study is to adopt Web Users Self-Efficacy Scale (WUSE) developed by Eachus & Cassidy (2006) to Turkish and analyze its validity and reliability. A total of 706 students studying at Karadeniz Technical University (KTU), Gazi University (GU), Sakarya University (SU) and Kırıkkale University (KU) participated in the study. Validity and reliability analyses were done after completing linguistic equivalency and its appropriateness to Turkish. For the structural validity “Exploratory Factor Analysis” (EFA) and for testing the correctness of factorial structure, “Confirmatory Factor Analysis” (CFA) was employed as the method. Educational Internet Self Efficacy Scale was used for criterion dependent validation process in parallel with the WUSE. Four sub factors, which are compatible with the original form of the scale, were determined after the analysis. Those factors were named as “Information Retrieval”, Information Provision”, “Communications” and “Internet Technology”. Total explained variance of the scale was found to be 55.26%. Internal consistency coefficient was calculated to be .90 for the whole scale, between .82 and .90 for sub-factors. Test re-test reliability coefficient was calculated to be .79. In addition, total correlations of corrected items were found to be lined up between .33 and .71 and it was found out that differences between means of top-bottom 27% groups were meaningful. It is concluded on the basis of CFA and other statistical results that Turkish version of the scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool

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