Examination of the Score Reliability and Validity of the Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale

Abstract

R. J. Cruise and E. M. Wilkins’ (1980) Statistical Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS) was administered to 201 college students in China to measure their levels of statistics anxiety. The acceptable score reliability and validity indicates that the STARS can be used with this population. In addition to examining the reliability and validity of the STARS scores in a sample of Chinese college students, a comparison of the means on the six original subscales were also undertaken between different studies conducted in the USA, the UK, and China. The Chinese population reported the lowest anxiety on the dimension of Test and Class Anxiety, and a low anxiety on Fear of Asking for Help and Interpretation Anxiety. Possible explanations are discussed.