Article

Development and Validation of the Scale on Young Children’s Preferences for Literacy Activities

Author

Choi Naya

Information

pp. 1~23 / 2017 Vol.24 No.1

Abstract

This study was conducted to develop and validate the preference scale for young children’s literacyactivities. A total of 1,035(536 boys and 499 girls) preschoolers and 154 teachers from 33 institutesin 9 regions participated. Multiple methods were used such as confirmatory factor analysis,comparison with a similar scale, test-retest, and analysis for internal consistency reliability and itemquality/discrimination. According to the results, the scale showed appropriate validity, reliability, anditem quality. The scale consisted of 19 items of 2 factors, i.e. emergent literacy activities andconventional literacy activities. The teachers reported no differences between the classes for 4-year-oldsand those for 5-year-olds in the frequency and importance of literacy activities., but their perceptionson children’s preferences did not reflect the reality. Emergent literacy activities were preferred overconventional literacy activities. Older children reported a stronger preference for literacy activities,and girls preferred conventional literacy activities more than boys. Finally, children enrolled atdaycare centers generally showed a stronger preference for literacy activities than kindergarteners.Teachers and parents may help young children by personalizing literacy activities and theenvironment using this reliable scale.

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