Development and psychometric properties of a reading comprehension skill test for third grade students

Abstract

This study aims to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of a reading comprehension skills test for third grade students in Puerto Montt, Chile. The test foundations come from the analysis of natural semantic networks and a bibliographical revision and an expert panel was in charge of validating the test’s content. 1000 third grade students were evaluated independently. The final version of the instrument contained 21 items which, through exploratory factor analysis, were grouped in six factors: information extraction, phonological skills, during reading strategies, after reading strategies, non-literary texts interpretation, and sequencing. Internal reliability of the test was appropriate (alpha=.778), and significant correlation between the score of the instrument, the score obtained in the language subject, the academic self-esteem test, and the educational special needs of the students was found.