Factorial Validation of a Measure of Attitude Toward Public Health Nursing Courses

Abstract

The Adjective Rating Scale was administered as a pre- and postcourse measure of attitudes toward Public Health Nursing courses as part of a program evaluation. The sample included 352 precourse cases and 447 postcourse cases. A principal- components factor analysis with varimax rotation was used on both the pre- and postcourse samples to determine if the reported factor structure of the instrument would replicate over an all-female, professional sample. The factor structure reduced from the reported five factors to four factors in the precourse sample and to three factors in the postcourse sample. The significance of using the Adjective Rating Scale with an all-female professional sample is discussed.