Rural and urban students^ attitudes toward physics: a comparative study using rasch analysis
Sariaman Siringo Ringo(a*), Kuswanto Kuswanto (b), Achmad Samsudin (a), Andhy Setiawan (a)

a) Departemen Pendidikan Fisika, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No. 229, Bandung 40154, Indonesia
*sariamanring[at]upi.edu
b) College of Education, Central Luzon State University Science City of Munoz, Nueva Echija, Philippines

Abstract

Physics education researchers have put out a large number of papers about attitudes. Yet, only few papers employed Rasch model to analyze data of attitudes. This paper reports a comparative study of students^ attitudes toward physics from rural and urban high schools (n=130). In order to collect data of attitudes toward physics, the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS) was administered online to participated students. Obtained data were analyzed by using Rasch model and t-test. Prior Rasch analysis revealed that all items of the CLASS were fitted the Rasch model and had good psychometric properties. The present research found that there were no significant differences between rural and urban students in terms of attitudes toward physics. This result was in line with some earlier finding, but also contrary to other previous result. One of variables probably affecting this outcome was teachers^ unawareness of technology usage and other school facilities to enhance teaching quality.

Keywords: Attitudes toward physics, School Location, Rasch Model

Topic: Physics Education