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Measuring Competence in APA Writing Style: Scale Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Indonesian University Students

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Title: Measuring Competence in APA Writing Style: Scale Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Indonesian University Students
Language: English
Authors: Muhammad Dwirifqi Kharisma Putra (ORCID 0000-0002-9383-7904), Wardani Rahayu, Khusnul Bayu Aji
Source: Teaching of Psychology. 2026 53(3):201-212.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Citations (References), Writing (Composition), Writing for Publication, Writing Skills, Graduate Students, Doctoral Students, Guidelines, Item Response Theory, Psychometrics, Test Reliability, Writing Evaluation, Guides, Content Validity
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
DOI: 10.1177/00986283261418601
ISSN: 0098-6283
1532-8023
Abstract: Background: The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a convention adopted by many universities worldwide. However, students find it difficult to apply the correct APA 7th edition format. Objective: This study developed and validated a curriculum-based questionnaire to assess students' competence in formatting journal articles according to APA style. Method: We recruited 1,117 participants online (69.2% master's students and 30.8% doctoral students) from various Indonesian universities. Each participant completed our 30-item Student Competence in APA 7 Writing Style (SCAWS) scale. We used simple Rasch models to evaluate the scale's psychometric properties. Results: The Rasch analysis confirmed model fit based on global-fit statistics. Totally, 27 of the 30 items were found to fit the Rasch model. The scale's reliability was 0.813, indicating strong internal consistency. Conclusion: The 27-item SCAWS scale provides a valid measure suitable for use in educational and psychological research. Teaching implications: The SCAWS scale appears to offer lecturers a useful instrument for diagnosing postgraduate students' difficulties in understanding the APA 7th edition writing style and provides recommendations for addressing their weaknesses in specific areas.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/cb8jh/?view_only=f8ed09ec31fe4aafa8034d82b68b26f5
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505546
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Measuring Competence in APA Writing Style: Scale Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Indonesian University Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Muhammad+Dwirifqi+Kharisma+Putra%22">Muhammad Dwirifqi Kharisma Putra</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9383-7904">0000-0002-9383-7904</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wardani+Rahayu%22">Wardani Rahayu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Khusnul+Bayu+Aji%22">Khusnul Bayu Aji</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Teaching+of+Psychology%22"><i>Teaching of Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 53(3):201-212.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 12
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citations+%28References%29%22">Citations (References)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+%28Composition%29%22">Writing (Composition)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+for+Publication%22">Writing for Publication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Skills%22">Writing Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Doctoral+Students%22">Doctoral Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guidelines%22">Guidelines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Item+Response+Theory%22">Item Response Theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychometrics%22">Psychometrics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Evaluation%22">Writing Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guides%22">Guides</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Content+Validity%22">Content Validity</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indonesia%22">Indonesia</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1177/00986283261418601
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0098-6283<br />1532-8023
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: The American Psychological Association (APA) style is a convention adopted by many universities worldwide. However, students find it difficult to apply the correct APA 7th edition format. Objective: This study developed and validated a curriculum-based questionnaire to assess students' competence in formatting journal articles according to APA style. Method: We recruited 1,117 participants online (69.2% master's students and 30.8% doctoral students) from various Indonesian universities. Each participant completed our 30-item Student Competence in APA 7 Writing Style (SCAWS) scale. We used simple Rasch models to evaluate the scale's psychometric properties. Results: The Rasch analysis confirmed model fit based on global-fit statistics. Totally, 27 of the 30 items were found to fit the Rasch model. The scale's reliability was 0.813, indicating strong internal consistency. Conclusion: The 27-item SCAWS scale provides a valid measure suitable for use in educational and psychological research. Teaching implications: The SCAWS scale appears to offer lecturers a useful instrument for diagnosing postgraduate students' difficulties in understanding the APA 7th edition writing style and provides recommendations for addressing their weaknesses in specific areas.
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  Data: https://osf.io/cb8jh/?view_only=f8ed09ec31fe4aafa8034d82b68b26f5
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1505546
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Citations (References)
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      – SubjectFull: Indonesia
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