Development and Score Validation of a Chemistry Laboratory Anxiety Instrument (CLAI) for College Chemistry Students

The present study reports the development and score validation of an instrument for measuring anxieties students experience in college chemistry laboratories. Factor analytic evidence from an initial sample ( n = 361) of college chemistry students shows the Chemistry Laboratory Anxiety Instrument (CLAI) measures five constructs: working with chemicals, using equipment and procedures, collecting data, working with other students, and having adequate time. Additional analyses with a second sample ( n = 598) show that scores on these anxiety constructs are internally consistent, with Cronbach’s alphas ranging from 0.73 to 0.88. The study also provides suggestions for uses of the instrument in instructional experiments to enhance learning.