Investigating Science Students Readiness to Perform Practical’s at Secondary Level

Abstract

The Science Practical’s Readiness Assessment (SPRA) aims to evaluate the readiness of secondary-level students to perform science practicals effectively. This study addresses the crucial need for students to be well-prepared for practical science activities, which are vital for their overall scientific understanding and competence. The research involved developing a comprehensive instrument with 50 items across four key factors: access to resources and facilities, teacher support and guidance, interest and motivation, and self-efficacy and confidence. After expert evaluation by 14 specialists, 19 items were discarded due to low content validity ratios (below 0.45). The remaining items were administered via a Google form in a WhatsApp group of school students. Exploratory factor analysis using varimax rotation confirmed the validity of the scale. The instrument's reliability was verified with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.921. The study's findings highlight critical areas for improvement in science education and offer a validated tool for assessing student readiness.