DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIDOMAIN TEST ANXIETY SCALES FOR ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Test anxiety adversely affects students academically, but most current assessment tools do not capture multidisciplinary nuances. This research describes the creation and validation process of the Multidomain Test Anxiety Scale (MTAS), which aims to measure the specific anxiety attributes of engineering and social science students. The scale creation process included defining the construct, generating items and drawing on expert feedback, as well as conducting pilot tests and psychometric validation. In the main study, 400 undergraduate students were sampled, and the results uncovered four reliable anxiety dimensions: Cognitive Worry, Somatic Anxiety, Verbal Expression Fear, and Task-Specific Stress. Engineering students showed stronger cognitive and task-oriented anxiety, whereas social science students were more concerned with emotional and expressive aspects. Statistical calculations verified the scale’s reliability as well as its structural validity, which showed strong internal consistency and domain discrimination illustrated by a Domain Separation Index of 0.81. The MTAS offers culturally relevant assessment mapping that aids the development of focused academic strategies. The study illustrates the need for psychological instruments that consider the wide-ranging educational contexts and domain-specific complexities.