The relationships between university students' organic chemistry anxiety, chemistry attitudes, and self-eficacy: A structural equation model

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between organic chemistry anxiety, chemistry attitudes, and self-efficacy. Participants were 368 sophomore undergraduate students. In this study, the Organic Chemistry Anxiety Scale (O-CAS), the Chemistry Attitudes Scale, and the Self-efficacy Scale were used. Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling was utilized to determine the relationships between organic chemistry anxiety, chemistry attitudes, and self-efficacy. In correlation analysis, organic chemistry anxiety was found negatively (r=-0.52) related to chemistry attitudes and self-efficacy (r=-0.36). According to path analysis results, chemistry attitudes were predicted positively (β=0.44) and organic chemistry anxiety predicted negatively (β= -0.16) by self-efficacy. Also chemistry attitudes predicted organic chemistry anxiety in a negative way (β=-0.44). The results were discussed in the light of literature.