Validation of the Conceptual Model of Mental Skills and Academic Performance of Science Department Students in Colleges of Basic Education in Iraq
Keywords:
Cognitive skills, academic performance, management and planning, learning and data analysis, interaction and collaboration, use of technology and resources., personal and motivational growth.Abstract
The aim of the present study was to validate the conceptual model of mental skills and academic performance of students in the science department at colleges of basic education in Iraq, conducted within the framework of a quantitative research design. The research method was descriptive of the survey type. The statistical population included all students of the science department in colleges of basic education in Iraq, totaling 12,000 individuals. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample size of 384 students was determined and selected through a non-random sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire (consisting of 5 components). To validate the conceptual model, SPSS and AMOS software were used. The researcher-made questionnaire was validated in the quantitative section and demonstrated high reliability. The findings of confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS software showed that the proposed model for the development of mental skills and academic performance had a good fit. Fit indices such as RMSEA = 0.043, CFI = 0.942, and χ²/df = 2.357 confirmed the acceptance of the model at an acceptable level. All the main factors, including management and planning, learning and data analysis, interactions and cooperation, use of technology and resources, and personal and motivational growth, had significant factor loadings higher than 0.5 and demonstrated suitable construct validity. These results confirmed the structural validity of the model and indicated that the extracted pattern can be applied in designing educational programs for students of the science department in colleges of basic education in Iraq. The obtained results indicated the desirable fit of the model and confirmed the factorial structure of the proposed pattern. These findings can serve as a foundation for designing educational programs and policymaking in the domain of mental skills and academic performance of students in the science department of colleges of basic education in Iraq.
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