A Study on Developing an Achievement Test for Fine Arts High School Guitar Lessons

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to develop achievement tests for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th-grade guitar lessons with high validity and reliability, which can be used in guitar education in music departments of Fine Arts High Schools.Design/Methodology/Approach: In this study, which was carried out using the survey design, one of the quantitative research methods, the units, subjects and outcomes of the guitar lessons in the curriculum of the Fine Arts High School where this study was carried out were examined along with the lectures and textbooks, and four different achievement tests were developed for each grade. The achievement test for 9th graders consisted of 40 items, while the 10th, 11th and 12th had 35 items. Expert opinions were taken for the design, scope and structure validity of the prepared tests and corrections were made in the test items in line with the feedback from the experts. The tests were applied with 79 guitar students studying at seven different Fine Arts High Schools in 2016-2017.Findings: The data collected due to the test application were analyzed. The achievement test of 9th grade, which initially consisted of 40 items, was finalized to have 28 items, the reliability coefficient was α = .912, the average item difficulty index was p= 0.59. The achievement test for the 10th-grade guitar lesson, which initially consisted of 35 items, was revised to have 19 items; in the end, the reliability coefficient was α = 879, the average item difficulty index was p= 0.55. The achievement test for the 11th-grade guitar lesson was prepared as 35 items, but the number of final items was 25, the reliability coefficient was α =.868, the average item difficulty index was p= 0.60. The 12th-grade guitar lesson achievement test was prepared as 35 items; the number of final items was 18, the reliability coefficient was α = .865, and the average item difficulty index was p = 0,50.Highlights: All achievement tests developed for guitar training were conducted at the undergraduate level when the literature was examined. It is thought that this study will contribute to the field in the secondary education level Fine Arts High School instrument training in the field of guitar lessons and will positively affect the quality of the guitar lessons at Fine Arts High Schools.