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Abstract

The development and validation of a revised form of the RAM Scale in Likert format, a measure of student philosophical orientations in terms of relative, absolute, or mixed biases or preferences toward issues of knowledge, methods, and values, are described. As part of a larger investigation, a sample of 125 community college students was administered the Likert version of the RAM Scale. An obtained coefficient alpha for the total scale was equal to .79, with coefficients of .38, .71, and .76 for the Knowledge, Methods, and Values subscales, respectively. An item analysis involving the correlation between the response of each subject to an item and his or her classification as relative or absolute was also conducted. Statistically significant phi coefficients were observed for 26 out of the 36 items. Also completed was a principal factors analysis of intercorrelations of 12 RAM subtests comprising 3 sets of 4 subtests, with each set representing an hypothesized content factor of knowledge, methods, or values. At least one factor (Factor II) contained clusters of items consistent with a content area related to methodological issues and assumptions.

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References

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The RAM Scale: Development and Validation of the Revised Scale in Likert Format

Abstract

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