Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to adapt a three-tier diagnostic test from English to Turkish to assess misconceptions of learners from high school or higher levels, about atmosphere related environmental problems which are about greenhouse effect, global warming, ozon layer depletion, and acid rains. The test as a valid and reliable instrument is developed in English by Arslan, Cigdemoglu and Moseley (2012), then translated into Turkish by researchers, after that, test adaptation producers were employed. Reliability and validity of the test was provided by administrating it to 207 pre-service teachers from a university in Ankara. The reliability of atmosphere related environmental problems diagnostic test (AÇPTT) was proofed by both quantitative and qualitative methods. The positive correlation between participants’ total score and their confidence levels indicates that the ones who hold fever misconceptions feel more confident than the ones who have more misconceptions. Besides, the percentages of false positives and false negatives which support the validity are calculated in the expected range, the values are 4.77% and 3.08% respectively. The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient is 0.73 and the mean difficulty index is 0.22. The translation of the test to Turkish language is important since it provides national education researchers and teachers to use it as diagnostic, formative or summative assessment tool.

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