An instrument for evaluating women's health knowledge

This study constructed a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating women's health knowledge. Content validity for the instrument was, in part, established by writing ten behavioral objectives relating to ten women's health knowledge conceptual areas. Content validity was also established through a textbook and syllabi review, and recommendations from experts in the field of women's health. A table of specifications was developed and used as a guideline to generate preliminary multiple-choice test items. After review and evaluation from the jurors, 125 test items which met the requirements of the table of specifications were used for the preliminary test, which was reviewed by the jurors. Using the juror's comments, suggestions, and recommended additional test items, the preliminary instrument was revised and administered to a representative sample of twenty-two women from a women's organization. Data were subjected to item analysis, including difficulty and discrimination indexes. A final knowledge test of 85 test items was developed based upon the results of the item analysis.

The final test was administered to 617 women from women's organizations and women's health classes from across the country. Because only five women's health classes were obtained for the study, the study results can only be generalizable for women in women's organizations. The data were subjected to item analysis and reliability. Reliability analysis included the Kuder-Richardson Formula 21 and the split-half test for reliability. Reliability coefficients of .67 and 1.00 were produced by the Kuder-Richardson Formula 21 and split-half, respectively, indicating the test is reliable for evaluating women's health knowledge of postsecondary women in women's organizations.